The gunman who opened fire at a Kroger supermarket in Tennessee has been identified as a 29-year-old man who worked for Kroger as a third-party vendor, police said Friday. One person was killed in Thursday afternoon's deadly shooting at the store in Collierville, just outside Memphis, and the shooter died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.
The deceased victim was identified as Olivia King, who is survived by three adult sons. Kroger said in a statement Friday she was a customer at the store.
Collierville Police Chief Dale Lane told reporters Friday that 14 others were wounded in the attack, including 10 employees and four customers. Lane said some of the victims were in serious condition.
The police chief commended officers for responding quickly to the scene.
"We have broken hearts, you know," Lane said. "Nobody wants to go into that scene, I can promise you ... I mean, there were bloody people running out of that building, and there was not one blue uniform that hesitated."
The chief said the gunman took his own life shortly after officers responded. "To my knowledge, it happened really quickly," he said.
Lane didn't release details about a possible motive for the rampage and said the investigation into the shooting was ongoing. "We're getting a clearer picture of what's occurred, but I'm not ready to release that yet," the chief said.
Lane wouldn't identify the gunman during Friday's press conference, but police later identified him as 29-year-old UK Thang. Lane said the gunman carried out the shooting alone and his criminal history included some misdemeanor arrests but nothing violent.
Lane said he didn't know if the gunman had been fired from his job. Authorities searched the gunman's home Thursday night and seized some evidence that investigators were examining, Lane said.
Lane praised people for running from the gunman when he started shooting. The chief noted people hid in freezers, closets and between pallets of groceries until first responders got to them.
"Yes, this is a terrible tragedy," Lane said, "but there are so many things that did go well yesterday that prevented additional loss of life."
Police said Friday night they have cleared the scene. They continue to assist Kroger as it finishes its own investigation and prepares to reopen the store.