Walmart incident ends with arrest

Sierra Martin | Managing Editor

SAN MARCOS — On Tuesday, August 17, around 8:30 p.m. the San Marcos Police Department responded to a possible shooting incident at the Walmart located on Highway 80. 

SMPD officers responded to Walmart after several reports that a fight had broken out at the location, with some callers describing hearing what sounded like gunshots. 

This incident took place just hours after a large SMPD and SWAT presence detained a suspect at Days Inn.

According to SMPD, no shooting occurred and there was no weapon found on the scene. The sounds reported as possible gunshots resulted from merchandise and other objects that had been thrown around during the incident. 

“We want to make sure everyone is aware that a shooting DID NOT occur at the store and no gun was found on the scene,” SMPD released in a Facebook post regarding the incident. 

Martindale resident Will Scoville was at Walmart during the incident and said the typical shopping trip quickly changed when what sounded like an argument at the front of the store escalated.

Scoville, who is an Army Veteran, said he didn’t hear anything that sounded like gunshots. But when Walmart employees began directing people towards the store’s back exit, he became concerned that it may have been an active shooter situation.

“Next thing I know, the argument got a little bit louder and the Walmart employees are coming down the isles going toward the back of the store and telling everyone to ‘Get out! Get out!'” said Scoville. “In my training and thought process, I thought maybe there is an active shooter or something. Why else would I hear all of this commotion and then everyone has to leave the store?”

Scoville said that getting to the store exit was difficult because some people were still pushing their carts or trying to stop and turn around to see what was happening. 

Scoville also mentioned that the Walmart staff did a commendable job evacuating the store safely and was impressed with the immediate response by law enforcement. Scoville saw “at least 15 or 20 (SMPD) cars” turning into the parking lot as his family was leaving.

Law enforcement located and arrested the suspect on the charge of Criminal Mischief. According to SMPD, the suspect did not have a gun, no shots were fired, and no injuries were reported.