HollyMatkinLenexa, KS – Police released surveillance video of a crazed gunman in a Kansas Costco who was brought down by an off-duty cop (video below.)
Ronald Hunt burst into the Lenexa Costco on Nov. 26, but quickly found out he was no match for a 22-year veteran of the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD.)
Hunt, 58, terrorized employees and shoppers on Thanksgiving weekend when he entered the store, and pointed his firearm at people indiscriminately.
Police released the store surveillance footage of the incident on Thursday, The Kansas City Star reported.
The video showed customers inside the store moving away from the front doors, just before Hunt entered the building at 11:10 a.m.
Once inside, Hunt waved a gun and pointed it at an employee. The video showed the employee drop to his stomach and take cover behind a counter.
The surveillance footage then cut to the central shopping area, where customers and employees fled to the back of the store.
Hunt followed the exodus, marching through the store in the same direction as his potential victims, seemingly unaware that KCPD Captain Michael Howell was close behind.
The video showed Capt. Howell as he stealthily stalked Hunt through the store, weaving between rows of shelves.
He closed in on Hunt in the rear corner of the store as the video ended.
According to investigators, Capt. Howell then ordered Hunt to drop his weapon, and fired on him when Hunt refused to comply and “acted aggressively,” The Kansas City Star reported.
Police said Hunt never discharged his weapon.
Lenexa Police Department (LPD) Chief Thomas Hongslo said he believed that Hunt came to the store “to kill people,” and that Capt. Howell “potentially saved officers’ lives also.”
Capt. Howell “did everything right,” Chief Hongslo said.
Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe said that Capt. Howell “acted with extreme courage, and saved an unknown amount of innocent lives.”
He will not face any charges in relation to the shooting, Howe said.
You can see the video of the incident below: