Colorado Walmart Shooting Causes Panic, Rush for Exits

At least 3 killed in suburban Denver shooting
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 2, 2017 12:05 AM CDT
3 Killed in Colorado Walmart Shooting
Police guard the front entrance to Walmart where a shooting occurred inside the store, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, in Thornton, Colo.   (Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post via AP)

Police in suburban Denver say at least three people were killed in a shooting at a Walmart early Wednesday evening, and no suspect is in custody. Hundreds of emergency responders rushed to the Thornton store after the shooting was reported around 6:30pm, the Denver Post reports. Police initially described the scene as "multiple parties down." Two men died at the scene and an injured woman died in the hospital. "At this time this is NOT an active shooter," police tweeted about an hour after the first shots were reported. Police later said that they were looking for a person and vehicle of interest.

Witnesses say that after shots rang out, there was panic and a rush for the exits. Some employees hid in the back before fleeing the building. "Everyone was running toward an exit," says a man who was at the door when shots were fired. "It was a scary experience." Virginia Samora tells KDVR that her 15-year-old son texted her from the store. "He said 'I'm at 1% mom my battery is ready to die but there’s a shooter here at Walmart, if anything happens to me I love you guys' and he pulled his friend out the side entrance," she says. (More Colorado stories.)

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