Man who opened fire inside Delco Walmart, injuring employee, in custody

Published on Aug. 1 | Updated on Aug. 3

GLENOLDEN, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — The man wanted in connection with a shooting inside a Walmart Friday night that injured an employee has turned himself in to authorities.

It was just before 7:30 p.m. when Darby Township police said two customers, including 21-year-old Armani Tyrell Waite, got into an argument inside the Walmart on MacDade Boulevard in Glenolden.

District Attorney Tanner Rouse said the other customer allegedly flashed a firearm they’re permitted to carry at Waite, and that’s when Waite pulled out his gun and fired three shots inside the store, missing the person he was arguing with.

One of the bullets went through a glass window and struck a Walmart employee. She suffered non-life-threatening injuries and, according to police, appears to be OK.

Rouse said about 30 people were nearby at the self-checkout area when Waite fired.

“It is really extraordinary that more people were not hurt by this. It was incredibly reckless. Incredibly. This could have been an absolute calamity,” Rouse said.

Rouse said while the other customer flashed his gun, Waite had no reason to believe his life was threatened. Rouse said that person will not face any charges.

Police said they were able to lock Waite down as the suspect thanks to security footage. He also dropped his car keys and gun after the shooting.

On Sunday, police obtained an arrest warrant for Waite. He turned himself in without incident on Monday, according to police. He faces charges including attempted murder, aggravated assault, and recklessly endangering another person.

One customer, Ms. Smith, was about to check out when the gunfire started.

“All you hear is a pop, and everybody's jumping down, going down to the floor,” she described. “From the corner of my right eye, I could see something ricochet to the floor, and then it flashed, so I'm assuming that was the bullet.”

She said everyone was moved to the back of the store before evacuating.

“Children [were] screaming, one woman, she was hyperventilating, she was panicking,” Smith recalled. “I went to her side. I was telling her to breathe, you know, take deep breaths in and out so you can be able to think and concentrate.”