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A machine-wielding gunman has been fatally shot by police in a Pennsylvania Walmart, authorities have recently announced.
The incident took place on Saturday, December 12, at 10:11 p.m. A suspect later identified as Andrew Joseph Todd, a 22-year old resident of Mount Bethel, gained entry into a Walmart store located on Lincoln Avenue, in East Stroudsburg, Monroe County.
Upon finding himself inside the convenience store, Todd, who had his face covered by a black bandana and was carrying a machete and 2 guns, proceeded to behave erratically and dangerously, making menacing gestures with his weapons.
Initially, as a witness identified as Jamez Felz revealed, the culprit was seen pointing the handguns at himself, but he then continued to move across the aisle, waving the loaded weapons at the crowd.
During the commotion that ensued, as customers were frantically trying to search for their companions and escape from the store, three gunshots were fired, and several people who had been threatened by the attacker managed to call 911 police dispatchers.
Law enforcement quickly arrived at the scene, and managed to safely evacuate all the clients and staff from the Walmart store.
When the perpetrator was summoned to surrender his handguns and machete, he vehemently refused, continuing to wield his weapons in an ominous fashion.
Given that Todd persisted in this behavior and resisted arrest, Stroud Area Regional Police officers eventually shot the man, one of the bullets hitting him in the chest.
First aid was promptly administered to the suspect, who was later driven by an ambulance to Pocono Medical Center. Upon his arrival at the hospital however, it was determined that Todd had been critically injured. He was declared dead shortly afterwards, by Robert Allen, Monroe’s County Coroner.
As law enforcement has stated, no Walmart clients have been hurt during the attack, which is quite fortunate given that approximately a hundred people had been present in the convenience store when the horrific scenes unfolded. Moreover, there were also no casualties among police officers who participated in neutralizing the suspect.
The deceased gunman’s identity was made public on Sunday morning, at approximately 7:30 a.m., after his family had been informed of his death.
At the moment, representatives of the Pennsylvania State Police and of Monroe County District Attorney’s Office are conducting an inquest into the Walmart attack, so as to determine exactly how the shocking event occurred, and what prompted Todd to act so menacingly.
As mentioned in a report issued by State Police Trooper David L. Peters, although law enforcement has secured the area, access inside the convenience store located in East Stroudsburg was still denied at 5.a.m. on Sunday, so as not the hamper the course of the investigation.
Image Source: WPTV
