RIVERDALE, Ga. — A chaotic scene unfolded inside of a Walmart in Riverdale when gunfire broke out in the meat department Thursday night.
Riverdale Police said it occurred at the Walmart store at 7050 GA-85 shortly after 6 p.m. The dispute happened between two people. Riverdale Police said one man was shot and the other, who they now say was a teenager, ran away.
Clayton County Police said the suspected gunman later turned himself in. Matthew Thomas Jr., 18, is now being charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to Riverdale Police.
A judge denied Thomas bond in court. on Friday during a virtual hearing.
One of the customers inside the store told 11Alive she heard gunshots as she was standing in the checkout line with two children. She said someone started screaming and everyone took off running, stampeding to get outside of the store. During the panic, the witness said some customers left their belongings inside as they rushed to find safety.
"So it sounded like something like a crash, like something fell. We heard people saying, ‘Gun! Run! Shots!’ I have two children," she said, "so I’m running out the store with two children, everybody was ducking, running. It’s really sad. We’re in Walmart trying to shop. We’re running for our lives. It’s sad."
An off-duty Riverdale police officer was working part-time at that Walmart, and called in the shooting when he heard several gunshots coming from inside the store.
The man who was shot was taken to the hospital alive.
Investigators are currently reviewing the store's surveillance video to learn more about the dispute between the two men and their investigation remains ongoing.
At first police thought this might be a case of a mass shooter, and they reacted accordingly. Units from Riverdale Police Department, Clayton County Police Department, Jonesboro Police Department, South Fulton Police Department, ATF, U.S. Marshalls and the Fayette County Sheriff's Office responded to help assist and evacuate the store.
The store reopened to shoppers at noon on Friday.
This is a developing story. Check back often for new information.
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