Holly MatkinRichland, MS – Cell phone footage captured the terrifying moment when a Walmart employee was taken hostage by an irate woman with a gun who grabbed her and dragged her around the store on Wednesday (video below).
The incident occurred at the Walmart store on Marketplace Drive at approximately 5:45 p.m. on Dec. 21, WAPT reported.
Witnesses said the suspect, later identified by police as 21-year-old Corlunda McGinister, got into an argument with a female employee inside the store’s customer service area, according to WLBT.
Cell phone footage showed McGinister holding the terrified worker hostage at gunpoint while demanding to speak with the media.
First responders tried to gather more information about the incident as they rushed to the scene, WAPT reported.
“Is she pointing a gun at people?” Rankin County Police and Fire dispatch said at one point, according to the news outlet.
“Last thing I was told is somebody walked in with a gun and yelled out that they want a news anchor there,” someone responded. “I’m trying to get further.”
Officers arrived at the scene and attempted to defuse the situation, but they ultimately ended up fatally shooting McGinister, WLBT reported.
No other injuries were reported and no further details were immediately released.
It is unclear how many people were inside the store at the time of the incident.
“It’s devastating for all parties involved — the officers, everybody that was involved in this situation,” Richland Police Department Chief ick McLendon said, according to WAPT. “You know, with the Christmas season coming, mental health is a big deal because of the stress involved in the Christmas season.”
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is leading the ongoing investigation into the incident.
The Walmart store will remain closed indefinitely, WLBT reported.
Watch the incident unfold in the video below. Warning – Graphic Content:
BREAKING: Video emerges of woman holding Walmart employee hostage at gunpoint in Richland, MS last night. Suspect was taken out by police pic.twitter.com/D5eILXlfXJ
— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) December 22, 2022
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