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Illustration: A DeKalb County Police vehicle. Photo obtained via Wikimedia Commons

A DeKalb Police spokesperson confirmed a person has been shot at the Suburban Plaza shopping center near the city of Decatur.

The incident happened around 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 11.

A suspect is in custody, the Police Department spokesperson said. The spokesperson said the victim had a minor gunshot wound and was transported from the scene.

On Thursday morning, the Police Department released a summary of the incident.

“DeKalb Police responded to the parking lot of the Walmart located at 2525 N. Decatur Rd in reference to a person shot,” the summary says. “Upon arrival they learned that civilians had already transported the victim to the nearby DeKalb Medical Center. The suspect and the victim had a dispute that spilled outside into the parking lot. The suspect drew a handgun and began to chase the victim. The victim was shot in the hand. The suspect fled and was apprehended by responding officers shortly after near N. Decatur and DeKalb Industrial Way. Warrants for aggravated assault are pending.”

Decaturish has requested the police report about the incident.

An employee of the store said the victim was a fellow Walmart employee. The shooting occurred in front of the store she said, not the parking deck, and the front of the store was closed off as a crime scene. The store itself remained open after the incident, however. The store closes at midnight.

Walmart spokesperson Charles Crowson referred questions to police and declined to discuss how the store handled the incident.

“All I can tell you right now is the main concern is the health and safety of our associates, and all other questions must be referred to police,” he said.

John Pitts, manager of the nearby Louisiana Bistreaux restaurant, said customers heard the gun shots and took cover.

“Everybody scattered, ducking underneath the tables,” Pitts said.

A witness told Decaturish, “I was exiting Walmart and walking toward my car. There was about five shots and people were just standing around stunned. It was clearly gunfire and it was coming from the direction of the Big Lot where the creole restaurant and Ross are. I turned toward where the gunfire was coming and saw a black male dressed in what looked like a security guard uniform running toward us and gesturing. I then with all deliberate quickness jumped in my vehicle and sped away.”

Decaturish will continue following this story and will provide more details when they become available.

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