A shooting reported at a Baton Rouge WalMart store earlier today did not happen, says the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office.
A 911 caller shortly before noon reported “two black males in the Wal-Mart on Burbank shooting.” Sheriff Sid Gautreaux says deputies arrived to find a chaotic scene.
“Panicked customers were running from the front and rear entrances to the store, and told initial responding Deputies that they could hear ‘popping’ sounds that they believed to be gun shots,” Gautreaux said in a statement. “Sheriff’s Deputies entered the store, and made an initial security search of the store, to ensure there were no shooting victims in the store, and there was not an active shooting incident that was ongoing.”
Meanwhile, around the same time, an individual arrived at a local hospital with injuries described as gunshot wounds.
“This was reported by the injured victim to hospital emergency room personnel,” said Gautreaux.
However, as deputies continued their investigation, confusing initial reports began to become more clear.
“Upon reviewing the video, investigators determined initial information obtained from eyewitnesses, and the 911 calls, was not accurate. Investigators have determined that an altercation did occur in the Customer Service area of the store between two males, where weapons were drawn. When customers saw the handgun, panic set in, and customers were running and screaming while trying to exit the store,” said Gautreaux.
The sheriff said firearms recovered in the investigation will be tested to see if they were recently fired.
WWL-TV reports the man who pulled the gun is a legal gun owner who said he was being threatened with a pair of scissors.
The sheriff concludes his statement, “Given the recent events in El Paso and Dayton, and given the initial information we received via 911 calls and witnesses exiting the store, we responded with what we feel is appropriate. The national climate regarding these incidents has the nation on edge, and citizens’ anxiety levels much higher than normal. We are in a position that we must respond according to our protocols and training to ensure that we are keeping our citizens safe. I would like to personally thank all of our law enforcement partners, on the local, state, and federal levels, as well as all medical and fire department personnel for the tremendous response to this incident. Preliminary investigation results gathered are that a shooting incident did not occur, however the investigation is ongoing. We will update with any further developments from this incident.”