One dead, one injured after shooting inside Richland Fred Meyer; suspect arrested
Feb 7, 2022, 1:34 PM | Updated: Feb 8, 2022, 11:40 am
Suspect in relation to Richland Fred Meyer shooting (Credit Kennewick Police via Twitter)
(Credit Kennewick Police via Twitter)
Authorities have arrested a man who they say opened fire Monday at a Fred Meyer in Richland, killing one person and injuring another.
A $1 million nationwide warrant for first-degree murder was issued for him on Monday, suspected of killing a Fred Meyer customer and critically wounding an employee on Monday afternoon, the Tri-City Herald reported.
KEPR TV identified the customer who was killed as 38-year-old Justan Krumbah.
According to the Herald, an internal Richland Police Department “officer safety” memo, issued by Interim Police Chief Brigit Clary, identified him as the man suspected of opening fire inside the Wellsian Way store at about 11 a.m.
In a Facebook post, Richland police said he was taken into custody without incident.
Authorities stopped him on Interstate 90 between Sprague and Spokane on Monday night.
On Monday morning, police had escorted employees and customers out of the store as officers searched for the shooter.
As a precaution, local area schools were placed on lockdown.
“What happened in our city today was a senseless and tragic act. Our hearts and thoughts are with the families of the victims,” Clary said during a news conference early Monday evening.
Richland Police Commander Chris Lee later addressed the media on Facebook Live near the incident.
Fred Meyer officials said in a statement on Twitter they were deeply saddened and cooperating with law enforcement.
“The entire Fred Meyer Family offers our thoughts, prayers, and support to all affected individuals and families during this difficult time, and we have initiated counseling services for our associates,” the statement said.
Witnesses described what happened after hearing shots inside the store.
“I was helping someone with their groceries, putting them in their trunk, when my boss and a bunch of people started running out saying, ‘run, run there’s an active shooter,’” Fred Meyer employee Alicia Noldner said.
“We heard a couple (bangs) thinking it might have been a couple balloons popping somewhere, and then we heard another few and people running saying, ‘shots fired, shots fired,’ and running and ducking out the doors,” employee Trevor Roland said.
Richland police said the suspect would be booked in the Benton County Jail on charges of first-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder.
