CORONA (CNS) - A man suspected of getting into an argument with another man, then opening fire in the freezer section of the Costco warehouse in Corona, killing one man and wounding two other people, including an off-duty police officer, was in custody this morning.
Officers responded to a shots fired call at the store, located at 480 N. McKinley St., at 7:45 p.m. Friday and anticipated an active shooter situation, according to Lt. Jeff Edwards of the Corona Police Department.
“They went inside and encountered four subjects down,” Edwards said.
One man was dead at the scene, two adults had suffered gunshot wounds and the suspected shooter was detained, he said.
An off-duty police officer from another agency was among the wounded, police said. The identity of the officer along with details of the agency the officer worked for were not disclosed.
The injured victims were taken to a hospital in unknown condition and the suspect complained of pain and was also taken to a hospital, Edwards said.
Witnesses told police there was an argument between a man with a Mohawk haircut and another man in the freezer section of the store before at least six shots were fired, KCAL9 reported.
Most customers ran out of the store when the gunfire erupted. At least 100 people were outside the store at one point, according to KCAL9.
Former Marine Aurtis Wilson told The Press-Enterprise he heard two people arguing near the store's produce section, then heard gunshots. He said he saw the shooter firing at several people as he, his wife and daughter ran out of the store.
The names of the victims and suspect were not released.
Personal items belonging to shoppers who fled the store, including purses, cell phones and backpacks, were secured by officers, police said in a statement Saturday morning.
“The items will be kept for safekeeping and will be released to the owner with proper identification,” the statement said.
Customers who left shopping bags or other items of interest need to contact Costco at 951-279-1190 to retrieve their property.
Anyone who may have witnessed the shooting was asked to contact Corona police Lt. Robert Newman at 951-817-5788 or via email at Robert.NewmanCoronaCA.gov.
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