Two dead in shooting at Walmart Distribution Center in Red Bluff; suspect in custody

RED BLUFF — At least six people were injured, two of whom died, in a shooting Saturday afternoon at the Walmart Distribution Center on 99W south of Red Bluff.

Based on interviews at the scene with employees and bystanders, the shooting took place around 3:30 p.m. during a shift change.

Allison Hendrickson, manager of Media Relations for Dignity Health North State, confirmed the casualties shortly after 7 p.m. Saturday. The four injured patients were listed in fair condition at St. Elizabeth Community Hospital.

Lt. Yvette Borden from the Tehama County Sheriff’s Department said the deceased included an employee of the distribution center, Martin Haro-Lozano, of Orland. The other was the shooter, a 31-year-old man who was a previous employee of Walmart as of 12-18 months ago. There was no information about his recent connection to the company.

Of those transported to the hospital, two were treated and released, Borden said.

Recounting the timeline during a press conference, Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston said the incident began at 3:30 p.m. with the suspect, identified only as a man, driving a white SUV into the lot and circling four times.

“Shortly thereafter he crashed into the building and made entry into the building with his vehicle,” Johnston said. “At 3:31 p.m. the first shots are fired. When he exited the vehicle, he was carrying a long gun semi-automatic weapon of some kind.”

An officer with the Red Bluff police Department arrived on scene at 3:36 p.m. and exchanged gunfire with the suspect, Johnston said. A second Red Bluff officer arrived shortly after and also engaged in gunfire with the shooter.

“The engagement occurred in the parking lot area outside the building, not within the building, but among the parked cars,” Johnston said. “Shortly thereafter the suspect was down from a Red Bluff police officer’s exchange of gunfire. He was transported to the hospital as far as I know.”

Johnston said the suspect was taken into surgery at the hospital with an officer assigned to him.

Borden said Saturday’s incident was not connected to a shooting in Shingletown earlier Saturday, in which a suspect was not apprehended.

Five ground ambulances responded to the scene, including one from Shasta Regional Medical Center in Redding, along with a truck from AMR Medical Support, and a California Highway Patrol helicopter. An additional helicopter was seen lingering and then descending next to the far side of the building.

At least one woman was shot and was reportedly leaving the building with two men helping her get to a truck, according to a scanner report at 4:03 p.m. Saturday. A second scanner report at 4:09 p.m. said two people who were injured were exiting the building on the north entrance of the building.

Scanner traffic indicated at 4:12 p.m. Saturday that a team of seven was working to clear the building, looking for victims. Two sweeps of the building were made.

“We aware of the situation and are working with law enforcement to assist as they investigate,” said Scott Pope, director of National Media Relations for Walmart. “Our immediate focus is supporting our associates in the area.”

One woman said she was shot at in the parking.

The Tehama County Sheriff’s Department has jurisdiction over the case and will be conducting the criminal investigation. The Tehama County District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigations will conduct the officer-involved shooting portion.

A California Department of Justice Bureau of Forensics Lab Team arrived on scene about 8 p.m. Saturday and was being briefed. The DOJ will be “processing the scene in its entirety,” Johnston said.

Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team from the California Highway Patrol was en route and will be conducting an investigation into the portion involving the suspect crashing into the building and what actions occurred prior to the shooting.