Officials brief the press following deadly shooting at a Mississippi Walmart
District Attorney John Champion holds a press conference.
Two people who were fatally shot when a gunman opened fire in a northern Mississippi Walmart on Tuesday have been identified and the suspect has been charged with two counts of murder.
The shooting suspect has been identified as 39-year-old Martez Abram of Southaven, Miss., who officials said was recently fired. He was reportedly let go after showing a knife to a fellow employee, according to DeSoto County District Attorney John Champion.
Police said Abram, also accused of injuring a police officer at the Walmart, is in police custody at a hospital in Tennessee after being shot twice by police outside the Southaven business.
Abram is accused of shooting and killing 38-year-old Anthony Brown of Olive Branch, according to DeSoto County Coroner Joshua Pounders.
Employees said Brown was a store manager and was shot inside the store. The 40-year-old has two children, according to Fox 13 Memphis.
Family members said Walmart employee Brandon Gales of Hernando was shot and killed. (B W Gales)
Walmart employee Brandon Gales of Hernando was fatally shot in the Walmart parking lot, according to his brother and employees. Relatives said the 38-year-old had worked at the store for about 16 years and was most recently a department manager, Fox 13 Memphis reported, adding that Gales is a father of three.
Southaven Police Chief Macon Moore said Abram shot an officer who was saved by his bulletproof vest before a second officer shot him twice.
Investigators said the shootout began Tuesday morning after 6:30 a.m. local time at the chain's store in Southaven, a city roughly 14 miles south of Memphis, Tenn.
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Moore said at 6:33 a.m. the department received calls about an active shooter and a fire in the store, where 60 employees were working.
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Fox News’ Nicole Darrah and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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