imported post
I guess open carry will be eyed with even greater suspicion in the new Jacksonville Walmart now.
Wal-Mart employee arrested after shooting in store
Co-worker wrestles gun from suspect
March 23, 2008 - 11:58AM
BY LINDELL KAY
DAILY NEWS STAFF
An on-the-clock Yopp Road Wal-Mart employee held other employees captive with a shotgun and shot up the business at 2:30 a.m. Sunday before being tackled by a co-worker and arrested by police, authorities said.
Elijah Payne, 18, of Burgaw Highway, was charged by the Jacksonville Police Department with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, kidnapping, and discharging a firearminto occupied property, according to an arrest warrant.
Payne became agitated with other employees while on the job, went out to a vehicle in the parking lot and smuggled a 12-guage pump shotgun into the store inside a tent bag, said Deputy Police Chief David Shipp.
Then Payne blackened his face and entered the break room at the back of the store, police said.
He led employees around at gunpoint and began shooting into the walls and ceiling, investigators said.
At 2:31 a.m., Jacksonville 911 operators received the first of many calls. Officers with the Police Department, the Onslow County Sheriff's Department and the N.C. Highway Patrol responded.
"Customers and employees were running from the business when officers arrived," Shipp said. "Since it was an active shooting situation, the officers from the JPD, the sheriff's office and the Highway Patrol pooled their resources and immediately went into the store."
While officers were going through the Wal-Mart, they heard shots being fired in the back of the store.
"Just prior to officers reaching Payne, an employee disarmed him in a scuffle," Shipp said. "Payne was then immediately taken into custody. No one was shot."
One employee suffered a minor injury, police said.
After Payne was arrested, the Police Department's Tactical Unit entered the store and conducted a sweep to determine whether any other suspects remained inside.
No other suspects were found, and it was determined Payne acted alone, Shipp said, adding that the Tactical Unit did find an employee who was still hiding in the store long after the incident occurred.
Police remained on the scene until 6 a.m.; the Wal-Mart was reopened by noon.
Local employees of the Wal-Mart deferred questions to Wal-Mart's corporate office, which could not be reached for comment.
Jacksonville Fire Department and Onslow County Emergency Medical Services assisted on the scene, Shipp said.
Payne was lodged in Onslow County Jail; his bond was set at $75,000.