Walmart shooting: At least three killed in Colorado store

Colorado shooting: “Shooting just occurred at Walmart, 9900 Grant St, multiple parties down. Please stay away from the area,” the Thornton Police Department said (Source: Google Maps)

At least three people were killed after an unidentified gunman opened fire inside a Walmart store in the US state of Colorado on Wednesday, reported The Associated Press. The shooting took place Thornton, which is about 16 kilometres northeast of Denver.

Though it is also not clear if the assailant has been taken into custody, the police department wrote on Twitter that there is no active shooter present in the Walmart store. “At this time this is NOT an active shooter. Active crime scene. We will update as info becomes available,” the police department said in a tweet. It has also asked people to stay away from the area.

PIO on scene. Media should stage on E. 98th Ave, east of Grant St. (2) confirmed deceased adult males, (1) adult female transported pic.twitter.com/HU4YcZ2Wlz

— Thornton Police Dept (@ThorntonPolice) November 2, 2017

“We’ve got multiple parties down, we’re still trying to ascertain what their conditions are,” Officer Victor Avila of the Thornton Police Department was quoted as saying by Reuters. The officer added that the Walmart store was “self-evacuated” by customers and employees who fled following the gunfire.

SEE PHOTOS | Colorado Shooting: This Is What Happened Outside Walmart

Police guard the entrance at the scene of a shooting at a Walmart in Thornton, Colorado (Source: Reuters)

Reports of shots fired came shortly before 6.30 pm Mountain Time, a police spokesperson told the local media in Denver. Local television images showed a number of police cars and ambulances surrounding the store, lights flashing.

Shooting just occurred at Walmart, 9900 Grant St, multiple parties down. Please stay away from the area. pic.twitter.com/MdffbTPLKl

— Thornton Police Dept (@ThorntonPolice) November 2, 2017

An hour after the incident, the situation, the nature of the incident or status of the threat remained unclear, Avila said. Local media reported that a woman whose son was in Walmart had told her that he had heard about 30 gunshots and was still inside.

(With inputs from agencies)