Suspect Charged After Deadly Shooting Outside Arlington Walgreens
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ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) - While it's back to business for a Walgreens store in southeast Arlington after a deadly shooting in the location's parking lot, tributes continue to pour in for the Good Samaritan killed while trying to stop a gunman.
The shooting happened just before noon on Monday in the 5600 block of New York Avenue, and left one man dead and a woman injured.
The suspect, 22-year-old Ricci Bradden, is in the Arlington Jail charged with murder. His bond is set at $500,000.
Bradden, a soldier posted at Fort Hood, is expected to be charged with murder when he is returned to Arlington. Authorities said Bradden's 22-year-old wife worked at the Walgreens store. Bradden confronted her just outside of the store's front doors, shooting her in the leg. She was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and is expected to be just fine.
However, retired Marine T.J. Antell witnessed the alleged domestic violence shooting and tried to intervene. Police said Antell was fatally shot by Bradden in the Walgreens parking lot. Bradden was attempting to flee from the scene in his vehicle when Antell stepped in with a gun of his own, pointing his firearm at the suspect in hopes of getting the man to stop.
"The Good Samaritan tried to do the right thing and prevent the suspect from leaving," explained Lt. Christopher Cook of the Arlington Police Department. But his efforts were unsuccessful. According to a statement that Bradden gave to police after his arrest, the suspect swatted the gun from Antell's hand and then fired.
"We're not even sure if the Good Samaritan even fired a round or not," Cook added.
Antell was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife was there as well and witnessed her husband's deadly shooting. "I just can't imagine going through that," said Cook. Antell also leaves behind three children.
People from Antell's gym and other gyms across the U.S. are going online to express their sorrow.
Another CrossFit gym in Pensacola Florida posted:
"May God bless TJ's loved ones during this sad and critical time of loss… What a detrimental lost to the CrossFit community and the world as a whole."
In another post, an employee who worked at the CrossFit gym in Arlington called Antell a:
"CrossFit coach for the heavens... A fighter and always strong, he's always looking out for others and encouraged me and many others to do the same."
"His example will continue to be a source of strength for his kids and his precious wife and all of us who've known him," said Rev. Marc Lowrance, the family's pastor, at a prayer gathering Monday night. "He went into a protective mode. He's a father. He's protective by nature. And he thought he could help everyone involved. Tragically, it went a different way."
Friends have set up a GoFundMe account for the victim's family. They have already raised more then $8,000 to help pay for Antell's funeral expenses.
Bradden was taken into custody about two hours after the shooting. The Army veteran had been fleeing south before his father took him to a Texas Department of Public Safety office in Hillsboro.