Holly MatkinEvansville, IN – A former Walmart employee was fatally shot by police after he opened fire on Jan. 19 inside the store where he used to work, according to police (video below).
The attack occurred at the Walmart store on South Red Bank Road near the Lloyd Expressway at approximately 10 p.m. on Jan. 19, the Courier & Press reported.
Investigators said the suspect, 25-year-old Ronal Ray Mosley, barged into a meeting in the breakroom area and abruptly shot one of his female former coworkers in the face, according to The Washington Post.
Police said Mosley targeted the woman specifically.
A male employee whom the gunman also planned to kill fled from the room after the initial shooting, so Mosley ran out of the room after him, according to police.
Another female employee called 911 and ran back into the breakroom to help the wounded victim, The Washington Post reported.
She was able to move the victim to another room, shut off the lights, and locked the door behind them.
Her heroic efforts likely saved the victim’s life, Evansville Police Department (EPD) Chief Billy Bolin said during a press conference the following day.
“I have no doubt that he was going back to finish what he started and we would probably have a dead victim today instead of one that’s alive,” Chief Bolin said, according to The Washington Post.
EPD officers arrived at the scene within four minutes of receiving the 911 call for help, according to EPD Sergeant Anna Gray.
An estimated 100 law enforcement officers converged on the store, which had about 40 customers and 40 workers inside at the time of the attack, The Washington Post reported.
Mosley was fatally shot during the ensuing confrontation with police.
At least eight officers fired their duty weapons at the gunman, Sgt. Gray said.
“Multiple times he was actually shooting at officers before they were actually able to shoot him,” she noted, according to ABC News.
Chief Bolin confirmed Mosley did leave a suicide note and that he “absolutely planned to die” during the incident, The Washington Post reported.
Ronald Ray Mosley II
Indiana Walmart shooter pic.twitter.com/mg915Yci07— @BasedMeowth (@imAok7) January 21, 2023
The woman he shot was airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital and has since been listed in stable condition.
No law enforcement officers, customers, or other employees were injured during the chaos.
Walmart issued a statement shortly after the shooting, according to WPXI.
“The entire Walmart family is shocked by the senseless violence that occurred at our Evansville store, and our hearts are with our associate at this time,” the company said. “As we learn more, we’ll do everything we can to support our associates as they cope with this tragedy.”
Court documents revealed Mosley was fired from the store after he attacked four coworkers in May of 2022, resulting in him being charged with four counts of misdemeanor battery, The Washington Post reported.
According to an affidavit, Mosley claimed he “was being bullied at work and he lost control,” ABC News reported.
He later pleaded guilty to those charges and was working with Vanderburgh County’s mental health court’s treatment program at the time of the shooting, according to The Washington Post.
Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Diana Moers said Mosley was complying with his treatment requirements and that he had been in court for a progress hearing just hours before the attack.
Watch the police response unfold in the video below. Warning – Graphic Content and Obscene Language:
Sandy Malone
