A Pennsylvania man is facing felony charges after police say a brief dispute inside a Delaware County Walmart escalated into gunfire, leaving an employee caught in the chaos with a gunshot wound.
Armani Tyrell Waite turned himself in Monday and was taken into custody, according to Darby Township Police.
He faces charges including attempted murder and aggravated assault in connection with the shooting Friday night at the Walmart located on North MacDade Boulevard in Glenolden, Pennsylvania.
Authorities said the confrontation began after Waite and another customer exchanged words near the self-checkout area.
Officials said the encounter appeared brief before escalating into gunfire, NBC10 Philadelphia reported.
“There are no less than 30 people around Mr. Waite when, as a result of this argument, he pulls out a gun and fires three times,” Tanner Rouse, the Delaware County district attorney, said during a Monday news conference.
Police said one of the bullets missed the intended target, traveled through a glass door, and struck a female Walmart employee who was standing outside the store.
The employee was shot in the calf, taken to a hospital, and is expected to recover. Her identity has not been released.
Authorities said the other customer involved in the dispute had a valid permit for his firearm but did not fire any shots during the incident.
Police said the man showed his firearm in his waistband during the confrontation, but investigators do not believe Waite was acting in self-defense, FOX 29 reported.
According to authorities, Waite fled the store after the shooting and left behind his firearm and car keys.
Investigators said surveillance footage from inside the store, along with evidence recovered at the scene, helped authorities identify him as the suspected shooter.
“This could have been an absolute calamity,” Rouse said, describing the incident as one that could have resulted in more serious consequences given the number of people nearby.
Investigators searched for Waite over the weekend before he surrendered.
Police attempted to serve a search warrant Monday morning at a residence in Upper Darby Township but did not locate him there, according to WPVI.
Before his arrest, Waite’s family said he was cooperating with an attorney and preparing to surrender. Police later announced that he had turned himself in.
The shooting left shoppers and nearby residents unsettled as investigators worked to locate Waite over the weekend.
Some customers said they were grateful the employee’s injuries were not life-threatening and hoped authorities would quickly resolve the case.
Other customers said that the incident left them shaken, especially since there were several children present.
“I was waiting to pay, and the crazy part about it is my friend said, ‘Oh, let’s go to that aisle.’ I said, ‘No, I don’t want to go.’ I don’t know why, but I just didn’t want to go there,” one female customer said.
The woman, who was shopping with her 3-year-old child, said the aisle was near where the shooting occurred.
“The prayer I prayed before I went outside today was a good one,” she added.
Walmart later released a statement following the shooting.
“The safety of our associates and customers is a top priority,” the company said, according to CBS News. “We’re grateful to first responders for their swift response and are working closely with law enforcement as they continue their investigation.”
Investigators have not released additional details about the firearm involved, including whether it was stolen or previously connected to another crime.
The investigation remains ongoing as prosecutors move forward with the case against Waite. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 11.
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