There were some tense moments Wednesday night after a shot was fired inside a Spring Hill Target, prompting a massive police response.
SPRING HILL, Tenn. (WKRN) — There were some tense moments Wednesday night after a shot was fired inside the Spring Hill Target, prompting a massive police response.
The incident happened around 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23. The Spring Hill Police Department (SHPD) said the original call came in as an active shooter in the store. As a result of that report, officers from all over the city converged rapidly on the Target in the Crossings of Spring Hill, which was filled with evening shoppers.
“Caller is advising that at least one individual involved is a white female with blonde hair wearing a tank top and workout pants, possibly in her 20s; unknown if the subject is still in the Target,” a dispatcher reported.
When law enforcement first arrived, it was unclear if the shooter was still inside, so officers grabbed their AR-15s and proceeded with caution.
“Patrons started taking off for the front doors. We even had people that had locked themselves in rooms inside the store until we came and cleared the store for them to leave safely,” SHPD Capt. Justin Whitwell explained.
While SWAT units cleared the store aisle by aisle, other officers maintained the perimeter, making sure nobody came in and employees who may have been hiding got out safely.
“What’s it like for your guys as they’re tracking down each aisle?” News 2’s Andy Cordan asked.
“It’s a stressful event. We don’t have a lot of time to think about it. We just have to do it. First and foremost is the safety of the patrons: get them out,” Whitwell replied.
After a few minutes, police determined the store was safe and nobody was injured.
Based on the preliminary investigation, SHPD said two women who didn’t know each other got into an argument inside the store, the fight escalated, and one woman fired a round from a handgun in the direction of the other woman, but nobody was hit.
Authorities later released a surveillance image of the suspected shooter, who was seen leaving the store and getting into a car with someone. She has since been identified as a 24-year old Columbia woman. Police confirmed to News 2 they have interviewed witnesses, the alleged victim, and the 24-year-old to learn more about the circumstances surrounding this incident.
Witness Shanae Gordon said she was just arriving at Target when everyone was being evacuated to the parking lot.
“I was very surprised that something like that was happening,” Gordon recalled. “Once people realized what was going on, they did get nervous and got scared and was just more concerned of the safety, making sure no one got hurt.”
So far, nobody has been charged in this case as police continue to collect evidence and confer with the District Attorney’s office.
Anyone with information about Wednesday’s incident can submit a tip to SHPD at this link.