Three people were shot in an incident at a Long Island, New York, grocery store, leaving one dead.
One of the victims was fatally shot, and the other two were wounded amid the violence that took place at a West Hempstead Stop & Shop. The suspect, who was identified by police as 31-year-old Gabriel Dewitt Wilson, was said to have jumped onto a bus to escape, according to NBC New York.
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Wilson, who was either employed or had been employed by the business, allegedly shot the trio of people inside of a manager’s office within the store, and there were a “couple hundred” shoppers present at the time, Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said. He was carrying a small handgun during the spree, law enforcement added.
Wilson was apprehended by authorities Tuesday afternoon, according to Nassau County Executive Laura Curran.
UPDATE: Suspect is in custody. https://t.co/v6dSlciwYG
— Laura Curran (@NassauExecutive) April 20, 2021
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The Nassau County Police Department confirmed the “active shooter situation” on Twitter and asked that “residents remain indoors” until the perpetrator is apprehended. Law enforcement indicated that the deceased individual is a 49-year-old man.
“Everybody seemed to start running out of the store, panicked and frantic,” a witness said of the shooting.
The school district area was under “lockout” protocols.
Stop and Shop released a statement shortly after the event and said the “store will remain closed” amid the “act of violence.”
“Our hearts go out to the families of the victims, our associates, customers and the first responders who have responded heroically to this tragic situation,” the company wrote. “At this time, we are cooperating fully with local law enforcement on the investigation. The store will remain closed until further notice, and we appreciate the Long Island community’s support during this difficult time.”
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo deployed state police to assist the investigation.
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“The New York State Police has been directed to assist local authorities in their search for the perpetrator, and my team and I are in constant contact with first responders on the ground,” he said in a statement. “I am praying for the victims, and my heart breaks for their families and loved ones.”
This is a developing story, and it will be updated.
