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Twelve people were shot, one fatally, by an active shooter at a Kroger grocery store in Collierville, Tennessee. The shooter also died, making the tally of wounded 13.
Collierville Police Chief Dale Lane confirmed in a news conference that a gunman shot multiple people, the suspected shooter’s vehicle is in the parking lot, and the shooter is dead from self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The victim was identified by family members as Olivia King, a mother of three remembered for her religious faith, love of family, and sweet disposition. You can read more about her here.
“It breaks my heart to have to stand before you today,” Lane said. Lane called it “the most horrific event that’s occurred in Collierville history.”
Jennifer Casey, public information officer for the Town of Collierville, confirmed to the Commercial Appeal that there was an active shooter at the Kroger. She told the newspaper that there are multiple injuries but wasn’t more specific.
Video emerged from the scene.
Jason Lusk, who recorded the above videos, wrote on Facebook, “He shot off about 12 shots as I got to my car. My phone was in the car and I managed to video one of the shots and the police arriving.”
You can listen to the initial scanner audio here. It comes in the last few minutes of this audio file.
In the scanner audio, an officer said, “contact every agency for mutual aid.” An officer said at another point, “I need more ambulances.”
Here’s what you need to know:
Police Found Employees Hiding & ‘Multiple People Shot,’ the Chief Says
Lane said the call broke out at 1:30 p.m. for an active shooter. Police arrived four minutes later. “As we entered the building, there were multiple people shot,” Lane said, adding that police went aisle to aisle, bringing employees out who were in hiding and helping the victims who were injured.
He said the suspected shooter’s vehicle was in the parking lot and police were waiting for additional equipment to check the vehicle. “The shooter is deceased,” he confirmed. “We believe that is going to be from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.”
The initial police dispatch audio, available on Broadcastify, said that there were “four gunshot victims” in the rear of Kroger by the dumpster, one person was “down near the deli with a gunshot wound to possible shoulder,” and “another party was down outside Kroger, with a gunshot wound to the shoulder and back.” Multiple subjects were “down at the rear of Kroger.”
Fox13 reported that its news crews witnessed “two medical helicopters touch down outside of Kroger,” and Collierville High School was briefly put on lockdown.
Memphis police confirmed that there was a shooting at the Kroger. “Memphis Police Officers are on the scene of a shooting at Kroger located at 240 New Byhalia Road in Collierville, TN to support Collierville PD. MPD is assisting with securing the perimeter and scene,” they wrote on Twitter.
That’s a community located in Shelby County that is a suburb of Memphis. Photos and videos showed a massive law enforcement response to the scene.
Authorities have not yet confirmed details, including suspect name and motive. The active shooter reports broke out on the afternoon of September 23, 2021.
#BREAKING: Pictures from our crew in Collierville at a reported active shooter situation at the Kroger on New Byhalia Road. t.co/nMOlstwH18
Glenda McDonald, who works at the Kroger, told The Commercial Appeal that she heard the gunshot and said, “I just ran out the door. I left my purse, my keys, everything.”
Word Spread on Social Media
Active shooter at Kroger in Collierville Tennessee.
People in Collierville wrote about the shooting reports on social media. “There’s an active shooter at the Kroger across the street from my job. I was literally just there getting gas,” wrote one man on Twitter.
“There’s and active shooter at a Kroger grocery store in a neighboring town. Please pray,” a woman wrote on Twitter.
A man wrote, “Local friends, stay away from the Collierville Kroger. Active shooter situation there. Pray for our community, please.”
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