Police in Palm Beach County, Florida responded to a shooting incident inside a Publix grocery store Thursday afternoon, where authorities later confirmed three people died.
In a tweet, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office confirmed the shooting occurred inside the store. The tweet also confirmed that a child was among those killed during the incident.
"Upon arrival deputies located three individuals deceased from gunshot wounds, one adult male, one adult female and one child," the tweet said. "The shooter is one of the deceased. This was NOT an active shooter situation."
Detectives are investigating a shooting that took place INSIDE Publix in RPB. Upon arrival deputies located three individuals deceased from gunshot wounds, one adult male, one adult female and one child. The shooter is one of the deceased. This was NOT an active shooter situation pic.twitter.com/G9KgTr3Mmp
— PBSO (@PBCountySheriff) June 10, 2021
Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay said in a statement that one of the deceased victims was a toddler.
Police have yet to confirm the ages or identities of the three deceased individuals, or if they knew one another.
Prior to the tweet from police, a spokesperson for the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office confirmed to Newsweek that police received reports of a shooting near the grocery store.
Hollani Davis of WPTV-TV reported a large police presence near the grocery store in the Crossroads Shopping Center in Royal Palm at the intersection of RPD Boulevard and Okeechobee.
#BREAKING: Large Police Presence at #Publix Grocery in the Crossroads Shopping Center in Royal Palm at the intersection of #RPB Blvd and Okeechobee. @Chopper5WPTV can see employees have been evacuated from the store. CRIME SCENE tape is up.
— Hollani Davis (@HDavisWPTV) June 10, 2021
WPTV-TV reported that its Chopper 5 helicopter saw 15 to 20 Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office vehicles located near the store.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated when more information becomes available.
Palm Beach County Shooting Witnesses Recount 'Chaotic' Shooting Incident
Several witnesses have come forward to share their emotions following a shooting at a Palm Beach County Publix grocery store on Thursday.
Juan Guardia, who was in the store's deli area when the shooting occurred, told the Palm Beach Post that he was "scared."
"I heard, 'They're shooting!' A woman Publix worker said, 'Run! Shooting!'" Guardia told the Post. "I was scared. It's sad because everything happened fast. Everyone was running, some employees were crying."
Ron Glassman told the Associated Press that he saw numerous customers and Publix employees evacuating the store shortly after he parked his car in the shopping center. Glassman said that he heard those running from the store yelling, "There's a shooter, there's a shooter. Don't go in there."
Glassman told the AP, "It was pretty chaotic. People were very shaken."
Palm Beach County Commissioner Says 'We've Become too Numb to Gun Violence'
Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay issued a statement on Thursday following a shooting inside a Publix grocery store that left three dead, including the shooter.
"Heartbreaking news out of my district today," McKinlay said in the statement posted to Twitter. "We've become too numb to gun violence. Today we mourn the loss of these lives and we pray for those inside of Publix who witnessed this tragedy as well as the first responders who continue to run towards danger to protect the public."
Her statement continued, "Tomorrow we must step up and engage in a very honest conversation about why this happened and what we can do specifically to prevent this violence. Inaction is not an option."
I know people are tired of asking for prayers, but Im asking anyway. So I ask for your prayers right now for the families impacted by today’s shooting in my district. No politics today. Just prayers. pic.twitter.com/sNH3vJLjnj
— Melissa McKinlay (@VoteMcKinlay) June 10, 2021
Publix Says 'Our Thoughts Are With Those Who Are Impacted' by Shooting
Publix issued a statement on Thursday following the shooting that occurred inside a Palm Beach County store.
"We can confirm that there was an incident at our Publix store located at 1180 Royal Palm Beach Blvs. earlier today. Our thoughts are with those who are impacted by this tragedy. We are cooperating with the local law enforcement," the statement, which was posted to Twitter by Jay O'Brien of WPEC-TV. "Since this is an active police investigation, we cannot confirm any additional details."
.@Publix statement on shooting inside Royal Palm Beach store. PBSO says three dead including a child. Shooter is among the dead. pic.twitter.com/vFGlKA4rSB
— Jay O'Brien (@jayobtv) June 10, 2021
Palm Beach County Commissioner Confirms Deceased Child is a Toddler
While speaking with WPTV-TV, Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay said that the child that was fatally shot inside the Publix grocery store was a toddler.
Police have yet to confirm the exact age of the child or the ages and identities of the two other victims pronounced dead at the scene.
During a press conference, Palm Beach County Sheriff spokeswoman Teri Barbera said that it is possible the three individuals knew each other, but noted that details could change as the investigation continues.
Palm Beach County Police Confirm 3 Casualties At Store
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office confirmed on Twitter that "Detectives are investigating a shooting that took place INSIDE Publix," in Royal Palm Beach.
"Upon arrival deputies located three individuals deceased from gunshot wounds, one adult male, one adult female and one child," the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said in the tweet.
According to police, the shooter was one of the deceased discovered in the store.
"This was NOT an active shooter situation," the tweet said.
Detectives are investigating a shooting that took place INSIDE Publix in RPB. Upon arrival deputies located three individuals deceased from gunshot wounds, one adult male, one adult female and one child. The shooter is one of the deceased. This was NOT an active shooter situation pic.twitter.com/G9KgTr3Mmp
— PBSO (@PBCountySheriff) June 10, 2021
