Gunman Fires Shots In Walmart, Shoppers Duck For Cover
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - It was a scary scene overnight for shoppers at the Walmart Super Center in the 7400 block of Samuel Boulevard. Customers were ducking and running for cover after a would-be robber started shooting inside the store.
The shooting happened just before 10 p.m. Tuesday and the store is open and back to business. But security could regularly be seen monitoring the parking lot.
The scene wasn't as calm last night at the 24-hour store, when shoppers and workers said they heard gunshots. Witness Shantel Mims said there was no mistaking the startling sound of gunfire. "You don't hear gunshots at Walmart. It wasn't no BB gun. It wasn't no balloon."
According to police, the would-be robber went into the Super Center and tried to hold up the cashier at register #24. When the cashier follow his commands fast enough, the suspect reportedly fired three shots into the ground and then, while heading out the front door, fired his gun a few more times.
This morning officials revealed that an officer with the Dallas Police Department was nearby, heard the shots and went to the store. The officer arrived as the suspect was running out the front door and actually saw the man, now identified as 36-year-old Marcus Booker, fire a weapon into the air.
Booker, in his attempt to get away, had reported walked between several cars in the Walmart parking lot when the officer confronted him and shouted for him to get on the ground. Police say Booker hesitated and then dropped what they believed was a handgun. Booker also began taking off his shirt.
As the officer approached, a Walmart shopper and an off-duty sheriff's officer came up behind Booker and helped take him into custody. The sheriff's officer was actually working at the store in an off-duty capacity.
There were several people in the store when the incident happened, and many of them reportedly started running as soon as they heard shots fired. "I was in there shopping with my mama and we saw the police run in, heard some gunshots. After I heard the gunshots and saw everybody duck, I ducked and ran," shopper Roderick Ridge explained. "After that, we came outside and the police made everybody else come out."
DPD officials say no one, including the suspect, was hurt during the incident.
Marcus Booker is being charged with Aggravated Robbery. He is currently being held in the Lew Sterret Jail on a $100,000 bond.
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