Woman shot by Walmart employee inside northeast Harris County store, authorities say

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — A woman is expected to survive after being shot by an employee inside a northeast Harris County Walmart, authorities say.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said the shooting stemmed from an argument between the Walmart employee and three other women she knew from outside of work.

Deputies say the women confronted the Walmart worker outside the store on the North Beltway at Wilson around 2:45 p.m.

“Several of the females came in to talk to the management. I guess lodge a complaint about that employee,” Maj. Joseph Blendermann said.

That’s when deputies say the fight moved inside the store.

Video shared by a witness shows a different Walmart employee holding back one woman as other women fight near the cash registers.

Deputies said several Walmart employees attempted to break up the fight and a witness said security guards intervened as well.

After the fight had ended, deputies say the Walmart employee from earlier shot one of the women before surrendering to deputies.

“It was kind of scary,” a witness, who asked not to be identified, said. “Everybody kind of ran off, ran to the back, ran to the side, ran to the front or wherever you could go and get away from the scene.”

Santino Degomez said he was pulling up to the Walmart as employees and customers were running outside. He said he saw the suspect being led away in handcuffs while still wearing her Walmart uniform.

“From what everybody else is telling me, they’re telling me that she was, like, a shy worker and that she never showed signs to be, like, that type of person so they found it strange for her to just, you know, pull out a gun and resolve it in that type of manner,” Degomez said.

Walmart shut its doors for the rest of the day as investigators combed the store for evidence, catching frequent shoppers off guard.

“I was very amazed and surprised when I drove up and saw this,” one woman said.

“I’m being nosy. I want to see what’s going on cause this is my shopping center, so this is my place,” another said.

Deputies haven’t released the shooter’s name or said what charges she’ll face. It’s unclear if anyone else will be charged.

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