Gunman Opens Fire at Ohio Walmart, Wounding Four Before Killing Himself

Accident – Death – Obituary News : BEAVERCREEK, Ohio – A tragic incident unfolded on Monday evening when a gunman opened fire inside a Walmart store in Beavercreek, Ohio. This marks the second shooting at a Walmart store within 24 hours. The assailant wounded four people before taking his own life.

The shooting occurred in the suburban town of Beavercreek, near Dayton, just days before the Thanksgiving holiday. Among the injured were three women and a man. As of Tuesday afternoon, three of the victims were in stable condition, while one woman remained in critical but stable condition.

Local authorities have not yet released the identities or races of the victims and are considering the possibility that the attack may have been racially motivated.

Beavercreek Mayor Bob Stone expressed his condolences during a news conference, stating, “Tragedy struck our beloved community Monday evening, and, in the face of adversity, the strength of our community shines through.”

Walmart, the retail giant operating the store, is cooperating closely with investigators to determine the motive behind the shooter’s actions. The assailant has been identified as 20-year-old Benjamin Charles Jones from Dayton.

According to the police, Jones entered the Walmart store at around 8:30 p.m. on Monday, armed with a Hi-Point 45-caliber Carbine long gun. He fired multiple rounds, injuring several victims before ultimately turning the weapon on himself.

Efforts to reach Jones’ relatives have been unsuccessful, leaving many questions unanswered.

In response to the incident, Walmart released a statement expressing their grief and stating that the situation is still under investigation. They assured the public that they are working closely with law enforcement.

Eyewitness Christopher Suffron, who was inside the store with his wife at the time of the shooting, described the harrowing ordeal. “I turned around and told her to get behind me,” Suffron recounted. He saw the shooter just 10 feet away and decided to escape with his wife through nearby receiving doors. As they fled, they heard additional gunshots.

This incident occurred almost exactly 24 hours after another shooting took place outside a Walmart store in Anchorage, Alaska. In that case, a man shot and killed a woman before taking his own life. Authorities in Anchorage confirmed that the incident was related to domestic violence and that no other individuals were involved.

These two shootings come nearly a year after a tragic event in Chesapeake, Virginia, where a Walmart supervisor fatally shot six employees just days before Thanksgiving.

In response to previous incidents of gun violence, Walmart has implemented various measures. In 2015, the company introduced computer-based active shooter training for its employees, focusing on three key pillars: avoid danger, keep distance, and defend. Following a racially motivated attack in El Paso, Texas, in 2019, where a white gunman targeted Hispanic shoppers and killed 23 people, Walmart discontinued sales of certain types of ammunition and prohibited customers from openly carrying firearms in their stores. They now only sell hunting rifles and related ammunition.

Joe Pennington, a spokesperson for Walmart, emphasized the company’s commitment to promoting a safe shopping and work environment through policies, training, monitoring, and regular security protocol reviews.

Interestingly, the Walmart store in Beavercreek, Ohio, where Monday’s shooting occurred, was previously the site of a fatal shooting involving police almost a decade ago. In August 2014, a white police officer fatally shot 22-year-old John Crawford III, a Black man, after he picked up an unpackaged pellet rifle he found on a shelf. The family of the victim reached a settlement of $1.7 million with the city of Beavercreek, which also included changes in police policy.

Mayor Stone acknowledged the haunting memories that Monday’s shooting evoked, stating, “It can’t help but bring back memories. You know, it’s a tragedy all in itself, though, and this is the tragedy we are grieving for, and it’s a shame in this way that it has to be compared to the previous shooting.”

As the investigation continues, the community of Beavercreek mourns the lives affected by this senseless act of violence. The incident serves as a reminder of the need for continued efforts to prevent and address gun violence in the United States.

[Smyth reported from Columbus and Seewer from Toledo. AP video journalist Patrick Orsagos in Columbus and AP researcher Jennifer Farrar in New York contributed.]

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