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Concealed Carrier Prevents Mass Shooting At Missouri Walmart

An off-duty firefighter carrying his own concealed weapon held the armed suspect at gunpoint until police arrived.

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When a 20-year-old man reportedly walked into a Springfield, Missouri, Walmart carrying tactical weapons and wearing body armor on Thursday, an off-duty firefighter carrying his own concealed weapon held the suspect at gunpoint until police arrived.

The suspect was pushing a shopping cart through the store and recording a video on his cell phone when the store manager pulled the fire alarm, evacuating customers. The suspect made his way out an emergency exit where the firefighter held him for three minutes until police arrested him.

“His intent obviously was to cause chaos here, and he did that,” Springfield police Lt. Mike Lucas told the Springfield News-Leader.

He was reportedly carrying a “tactical rifle” and another gun, and he had more than 100 rounds of ammunition. Police said no injuries were reported and no shots were fired.

“At this time, the investigation is on-going and we are working to determine his motives,” police said in a Facebook post.

Following the mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, Walmart said on Monday that the company would not stop selling firearms or change its open carry policies. Unlike its competitor Costco Wholesale, Walmart allows shoppers to carry firearms openly or concealed in cities and states where it is legal.

“There has been no change in company policy,” spokesman Randy Hargrove said in an interview with the Washington Post. “We follow all federal, state, and local regulations.”