RICHLAND, Wash. — 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 the suspect, identified by Richland police as 39-year-old Aaron Christopher Kelly. Kelly is suspected of killing a man and critically wounding an employee around 11 a.m.
In a Facebook post, Richland police said Kelly was taken into custody without incident.
Authorities stopped him on Interstate 90 between Sprague and Spokane Monday night.
**Fred Meyer Shooting Update** 39-year-old Aaron Christopher Kelly has been taken into custody without incident. Kelly...
Posted by Richland WA Police Department on Monday, February 7, 2022
Richland police identified the man who was killed as 38-year-old Justan Krumbah.
Friends and co-workers of Krumbah said he was an InstaCart shopper with a “positive can-do attitude,” the Tri-City Herald reported.
Initial reports identified Krumbah as a customer.
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Police 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,” Richland Police Department Interim Police Chief Brigit Clary said during a news conference early Monday evening.
Richland police Commander Chris Lee later addressed the media on Facebook Live near the incident.
Lee confirmed to the Herald that the man killed inside the Fred Meyer store had a “heated conversation” with the suspected shooter just moments before he was shot, but the nature of their “interaction” remained unclear.
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 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 Kelly would be booked in the Benton County Jail on charges of first-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder.
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