Los Angeles

One Dead, Three People Injured After Fight Escalates to Shooting at Costco Store in Corona

The gunman is in custody and was taken to a hospital after claiming he was injured, according to police officials

One man died and three people, including an off-duty police officer, were wounded Friday night after a fight and shooting that sent shoppers running for cover at a Costco in Corona, California, police said.

Police responded at 7:45 p.m. to reports of four people down at the store, at 480 N. McKinley St., said Corona police Lt. Jeff Edwards.

Details about what led up to the shooting were not immediately released. But Edwards said it was an altercation that escalated to a shooting.

Nikki Tate, a woman shopping inside the store at the moment, recorded video with her cellphone as she tried to protect herself and her daughter.

"I crawled around to where she was and it was hysteria."

She was at the store with her daughter shopping for steaks for Father's Day. 

"I didn't know if this was another mass shooting," she said.

NBC4 aerial footage showed armed officers checking cars in the parking lot and shoppers being led outside.

A video provided by a shopper showed several people inside the store hiding behind a meat case as screaming could be heard. At one point, a police officer could be seen inside.

"At one point we thought the shooter was going to come out and shoot everybody," witness Luis Rafael said. "That's how crazy it was going on."

The gunman is in custody and was taken to a hospital after claiming he was injured, Edwards said. Three other people, including the off-duty officer, were hospitalized, but details about their conditions were not available early Saturday morning. 

In the rush to safety, shopper left several personal items at the store. Corona police said those items will be held for owners who can provide proper identification. Call 951-817-5788 to arrange a pick-up.

Copyright CNS - City News Service
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