2 Dead In Shooting At Walmart Distribution Center In Red Bluff, Authorities Say
RED BLUFF, Calif (AP/CBS13) — Two people were killed and at least four people were in fair condition at a hospital Saturday after a man drove into a Walmart distribution center and started shooting at people.
The two deceased people – one of which was the suspect – and the four others who were injured were taken to the hospital, the Tehama County Sheriff said. The victim killed — Martin Haro-Lozano, from Orland, California – was an employee at Walmart, authorities said.
The Tehama sheriff said in a news briefing Saturday night that the suspect was a 31-year-old male who worked at the center more than a year ago. It is unknown at this time whether there was a direct relationship between the suspect and other victims.
In a statement to CBS13, Walmart spokesman Scott Pope said:
We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident. Our focus is on supporting our associates, as well as their families and co-workers in the facility. This is an active police investigation and we will continue to work with Tehama County Sheriff's Office and assist in their investigation in any way possible.
The Tehama County Sheriff's Office said Red Bluff police officers exchanged fire in the parking lot, shooting the suspect down.
There also was a fire at the distribution center and the suspect appears to have rammed a vehicle into the building, dispatchers said. The sheriff's office said employees locked themselves inside a room as law enforcement officials worked on clearing the building.
The shooting at the distribution center started about 3:30 p.m.
Tehama County Sheriff's Office deputies have determined the shooter circled the parking lot four times before crashing into the building and opening fire with a semiautomatic long gun, Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston told the newspaper.
Johnston added that officials haven't figured out whether the shooting is related to one earlier in the day in nearby Shingletown, California, that reportedly killed three. "It is possible, we have just not confirmed it," Johnston said.
Red Bluff is a city of about 14,000 people about 131 miles (210 kilometers) north of Sacramento, California.
This is a developing story. Stay with CBS13 for all the latest updates on this story.