Police arrested an 18-year-old suspect after a 25-year-old employee was fatally shot during an encounter inside the Hammond store.
HAMMOND, Ind. — A 25-year-old Walmart employee was fatally shot inside a northwest Indiana store Monday morning after an encounter with an 18-year-old man escalated into a physical confrontation, police said. An off-duty Hammond police officer working security at the store took the suspect into custody.
Hammond police were notified at about 9:09 a.m. Nov. 2 of the shooting at the Walmart Supercenter at 1100 Fifth Ave. Police said the man had been speaking with the employee before the encounter became physical. Investigators said the man then retrieved a firearm and shot the woman. She died from her injuries. Authorities have not publicly released her name.
Hammond Police Capt. Steve Kellogg said investigators believe the woman and the suspect knew each other and had been talking for some time before the confrontation. Police had not publicly identified what caused the dispute as of Monday night, and no motive had been formally announced. Authorities also had not announced criminal charges against the suspect.
After the shooting, the suspect moved several aisles away, put down the gun and waited as police responded, Kellogg told local news outlets. The off-duty officer, who was working private security at Walmart, was already inside the store and helped take the suspect into custody. Police said the 18-year-old remained in custody as the investigation continued.
No customers were injured, according to police. CBS News Chicago reported that investigators did not believe customers were in the aisle where the shooting occurred. Another employee who was in the aisle was not injured. Police described the shooting as an isolated incident and said investigators did not believe there was an ongoing threat to the public.
The shooting brought a large emergency response to the Walmart, including Hammond police and personnel connected with the Lake County coroner’s office. The store was closed for the remainder of Monday as investigators worked at the scene. Authorities continued gathering information about the events that led to the confrontation.
Walmart said it was cooperating with investigators and providing support for employees after the shooting. “We’re heartbroken by what’s happened at our Hammond, IN store,” the company said in a statement. “We’re working closely with authorities as they continue investigating.” A company spokesperson also told ABC7 Chicago that assistance was being made available to employees at the store.
People arriving to shop later Monday encountered the closed store and continuing police activity. ABC7 Chicago reported that employees and regular customers expressed shock over the killing. The company had not immediately resumed normal operations while police processed the scene and employees dealt with the aftermath.
The Hammond Police Department said its investigation remains active and that additional information will be released when available. ABC7 Chicago reported Monday night that people arriving at the store were being told it was expected to reopen Wednesday. Police had not publicly identified the victim or the suspect or announced charges as of the latest reports.