A dramatic Walmart hostage situation, in Richland, Mississippi, ended when the assailant was killed by police. The public was notified by the department on social media around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday. By then, the scene was reported as “secure.”
More Walmart violence
Walmart employees from coast-to-coast have been edgy ever since the break room massacre in Virginia but weren’t able to prevent this one. The big box retailer seems to be a magnet for unstable maniacs. A heavily armed woman is shown yelling and screaming in an on-the-spot video taken December 21.
It’s not clear from footage if she had a gun in each hand but her left was at the head of an obviously terrified female hostage, possibly grabbing hair or collar. Amazingly, the employee kept her cool. Her captor held the visible weapon handy, in her free one, to fend off security.
According to the initial statement, “RPD is working an incident at Walmart involving a weapon. The scene is secure and we will provide updates when they become available.” Two hours later they issued an update.
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
“RPD had an officer involved shooting this evening at Walmart. All of our officers are safe. Walmart is secure and closed at this time. MBI will be conducting an independent investigation.”
Details are still sketchy but a transmission by Rankin County police and fire dispatch operator asked “is she pointing a gun at people?” The reply was “last thing I was told is somebody walked in with a gun and yelled out that they want a news anchor there. I’m trying to get further.”
The county coroner is keeping the suspect’s name under wraps until next of kin are notified. They do know that “the woman is not from Mississippi.” It’s not clear what brought her to Walmart.
No one else was hurt
Richland police Chief Nick McLendon wasn’t happy to be explaining a pre-Christmas tragedy but was relieved that it wasn’t worse. No one else, he reports, was hurt during the chaos.
“It’s devastating for all parties involved — the officers, everybody that was involved in this situation.” Most of all, the Walmart worker held hostage. “You know, with the Christmas season coming, mental health is a big deal because of the stress involved in the Christmas season.”
Chief McLendon pointed out that Walmart isn’t the go-to place for mental health counseling. “People who are struggling can reach out for help from Richland police.”
Thanks to a viewer for sharing this video of the scene at the Richland Walmart. Police responded to the store in response to an "incident involving a weapon." More details to follow at https://t.co/IY1UdJWe9C. pic.twitter.com/dNDOx5hAyN
— WLBT 3 On Your Side (@WLBT) December 22, 2022
Everyone else is urged to remain vigilant and call the pros on anything suspicious. “If you see something, say something,” especially “during the stress of the holidays.”
Blaze News has an up to the minute update: “The suspect, identified as 21-year-old Corlunda McGinister of West Helena, Arkansas, can be seen in footage of the incident pressing a handgun to a female Walmart employee, who appears wide-eyed and petrified.” That confirms she did have a gun in each hand.
Apparently, things got out of hand when “an agitated customer got into a confrontation with an employee in the customer services department.“
