Tennessee Kroger shooting: Gunman kills 1, injures 12 before shooting self as people hid in freezers
Mayhem unfolded in the aisles of a Tennessee supermarket Thursday afternoon, with people hiding in freezers to escape gunfire that killed one and injured 12 others.
The “horrific” shooting occurred inside a Kroger store in Collierville in suburban Memphis around 1:30 p.m. when police received a call of shots fired, according to Collierville Police Chief Dale Lane.
“We found people hiding in freezers, in locked offices. They were doing what they had been trained to do: run, hide, fight,” Chief Lane told reporters at the scene.
Brignetta Dickerson, a 33-year-old Kroger employee, told reporters that she saw one of her coworkers shot in the head and a customer shot in the stomach after the gunfire began in the deli.
She led a group of coworkers and customers to the back of the store as the shooter pursued them.
“I told them all, ‘Come on, let’s hurry,’” she said.
“Right behind us is our shooter. And he kept on shooting, shooting, shooting. He shot one of my coworkers in the head. And he shot another customer in the stomach.”
The shooter — who was believed to have acted alone — later turned the gun on himself, officials said.
Police could not confirm the type of weapon the shooter used, pending further investigation.
Twelve victims were transported to local hospitals, some reportedly by helicopters. The chief said at least one other victim checked themselves into the hospital.
Collierville High School was put on lockdown due to the active shooter situation.
As of 4:15 on Thursday, police said there were still some active scenes on the site, including the shooter’s car, which has not yet been searched as authorities wait for the proper equipment.
“It’s horrible,” Lane said. “I’ve been involved in this for 34 years and I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and Memphis Police Department are also assisting the local police department, as are ATF agents.
Kroger, which operates supermarkets all over the southern and midwestern US, said it would cooperate with the investigation and offer counseling services for its employees.
“The entire Kroger family offers our thoughts, prayers and support to the individuals and families of the victims during this difficult time,” a spokesperson for the chain told The Post.
“We are cooperating with local law enforcement, who have secured the store and parking lot. The store will remain closed while the police investigation continues, and we have initiated counseling services for our associates.”
