Southaven Walmart shooting suspect in Mississippi, Martez Abram a long time employee arrested after gunning down two fellow employees after recent firing.
A 39 year old Mississippi man is alleged to have gone on a shooting spree and murdering two workers at a Southaven Walmart location, Tuesday morning.
Martez Tarrell Abram of Southaven was identified as the shooter – with police saying the gunman had been recently fired by the outlet. He was reportedly let go after showing a knife to a fellow employee, according to DeSoto County District Attorney John Champion. Prior to being suspended on July 27- Abram had worked at the location for 25 years. He was formally fired two days later, July 29.
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.
Both of the people who died Tuesday morning were Walmart employees; police have identified the suspect as Martez Abram, who faces two counts of murder https://t.co/rtUHPUNCDB #USRC
— U.S. Reality Check🗽 (@USRealityCheck) July 30, 2019
Anthony Brown & Brandon Gales Southaven Walmart workers shot dead:
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, Fox 13 Memphis reported.
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 father of three had worked at the store for about 16 years and was most recently a department manager.
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.
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.
At least two people are dead and an officer is hurt after a shooting at a Walmart in Southaven, Mississippi https://t.co/lj4AvDWz5C pic.twitter.com/8hEwoG7R8I
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) July 30, 2019
Southaven Walmart shooting suspect had no prior criminal record:
Of note, Abram has no prior criminal record. The ‘disgruntled worker’ is expected to face charges of two counts of first-degree murder. Authorities say that Abram acted alone. The gun used in the shooting was purchased legally.
WREG reported investigators going to Abram’s home at the Southcrest Lake Apartments in Southaven and finding more ammunition. Officials said that further ammunition was also found in package at the Walmart.
Not immediately clear was whether the victims had been specifically singled out during the fatal shootings.
