Page 2 - ARUBA TODAY

A2 UP FRONT
Wednesday 31 July 2019
Continued from Front
Both the people killed
were Walmart employees,
Moore said. Employees
told The Associated Press
that the first was shot in the
parking lot, and the second
was shot inside the store.
Southaven Mayor Darren
Musselwhite described the
suspect as a disgruntled
worker with a grievance
against his employer.
Abram, a Southaven resi-
dent, had been suspended
from the store in recent
days after he showed a
knife to a co-worker. A po-
lice report had been filed,
but Champion said Abram
didn't appear to have
threatened the co-work-
er and criminal charges
weren't being pursued.
"It wasn't an accident," said
Travis Jones, an overnight
stocker who was working
when he heard shots. "He
knew what he was doing
when he came in there."
Jones said he saw the body
of store manager Anthony
Brown on the floor as they Officers stand at the scene of a shooting inside a Walmart store Tuesday, July 30, 2019 in Southaven, Miss.
ran out of the store. "It was Associated Press
an ugly scene," he said.
DeSoto County Coroner Nicholas Gales said the an "all-around good guy," gan arriving. the time. They were taken
Joshua Pounders said the other slain worker was his saying he was the father of "Everything went crazy at to the parking lot of an
40-year-old Brown, an Olive brother, 38-year-old Bran- multiple children. that point," Cox said, ex- adjoining Chili's restaurant
Branch resident, appears don Gales of Hernando. The shooting at about pressing sympathy for em- and interviewed by officers,
to have died from a gun- Jones called Brandon 6:30 a.m. brought a mas- ployees. "It's just hard to remaining there for hours.
shot wound. Gales his best friend and sive police response to the believe what happened Some embraced, while
shopping complex, at a here, but it seems like it's one was placed in an am-
busy exit off Interstate 55 happening everywhere." bulance. Others gathered
in Southaven, a suburb of Champion said police had in a circle to pray. Finally,
55,000 people. recovered multiple weap- authorities brought em-
"Our police really showed ons and a vehicle and ployees back into the store
their guts today," Mussel- searched Abram's apart- after noon, spoke to them
white said, noting South- ment. He said Abram had and released them to go
aven officers recently un- purchased guns legally, al- home. The store remained
dertook active shooter though he didn't describe closed, even as businesses
training, "If it hadn't been them, and said Abram had operated as usual else-
for their efforts there would no prior criminal record. He where on the high-traffic
have been more lives lost." said investigators were also suburban strip.
Carlos Odom, 35, had just reviewing video record- "The entire Walmart family
made his usual visit to his ings. is heartbroken by the loss
cousin, who works at the Investigators also be- of two valued members
Walmart on Tuesday, and lieve Abram set a fire in of our team," Walmart U.S.
said he was leaving when the store. Champion said President and CEO Greg
he heard more than a doz- charges could be upgrad- Foran said in a statement
en shots. ed or more charges added Tuesday afternoon. "We
"I just hear gunshots," Odom after the investigation con- feel tragedies like this per-
said. "Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. cludes. sonally, and our hearts go
Pow." "I feel extremely confident out to the families of our
"When the cops run into the we'll have a very prosecut- two associates and the of-
Walmart, you hear more able case," Champion said. ficer who was injured."
gunshots," Odom said. "Af- No one answered the door The company is relieved
ter that, it stopped." at an address listed for the suspect was appre-
Phil Cox, 70, said he had Abram on Tuesday after- hended, and appreciates
just bought some nasal noon. Some neighbors at the quick response by au-
spray and was in the park- the apartment complex thorities and its employees,
ing lot when he thought he about a mile (1.6 kilome- Foran said.
heard a gunshot, and then ters) from the shooting "We'll continue to focus on
saw a man who may have scene said they did not assisting law enforcement
been the shooter run into know him. in their investigation and on
the store. He got into his Moore said about 60 em- supporting our associates,"
truck to leave as police be- ployees were working at he added.q