FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio — One man is charged after shooting two people inside a Fairfield Township Walmart Thursday killing one and injuring another, Fairfield Township police said.
Anthony Brown, 32, was booked into the Butler County Jail on felony charges including aggravated robbery, aggravated murder and having weapons under disability. Fairfield Township police said other charges may be pending.
Brown's bond was set at $5 million, according to his attorney, Clyde Bennett.
He was taken into custody around 4:15 a.m. Friday after a situation involving SWAT at the Fairfield Inn in Middletown, according to Middletown police.
Fairfield Township police and other agencies responded to reports of a shooting at a Walmart on Princeton Road at around 8 p.m. Thursday. Before they arrived, police said they were told two people were shot and a suspect had left the scene.
One person, 35-year-old Adam Black, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Butler County Coroner. A second person was taken to UC West Chester. While their condition is unknown, police said they believe the person had life-threatening injuries.
"In our own hometown, it's crazy that it's here something's happening like that," one witness said. "Can't even come to your local store safely."
Police said a Walmart employee and other customers confronted the suspect, who was shoplifting in the electronics section.
“We can all appreciate a good samaritan who is wanting to jump in and help, [but] there’s so many times when someone is getting hurt," Fairfield Township Police Capt. Doug Lanier said. "For property, it’s just not worth it. Just not worth it.”
According to Fairfield Township Police, the good Samaritan was shot and killed. An employee was also shot and taken to U.C. West Chester in serious condition.
A Walmart employee told WCPO the employee who was shot and taken to the hospital worked as a greeter at the front of the store.
"We come here every day — you never suspect it," one employee said. "It's hard to believe something like this would happen."
The suspect's car was found in Hamilton. Police said they found a passenger in that car who is cooperating with officers.
Watch the moment police took the shooting suspect into custody:
WCPO will update this story with more information when it is available.
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Something_Again on May 27th, 2022 at 14:27 UTC »
It’s a sad state of affairs when I read something like this and am actually thankful it wast a mass shooting just a regular shooting.
BrightFireFly on May 27th, 2022 at 12:49 UTC »
Oh hey. This is less than 2 miles from me.
Lots of comments in local facebook groups are as follows…
“This is what happens when food and formula cost so much!! #letsgobrandon”
(He was stealing electronics..not a loaf of bread)
And “we should all be carrying for situations like this..”
rubyblue0 on May 27th, 2022 at 11:09 UTC »
This is why I would never try to stop a shoplifter.