A shooting in the parking lot of York County’s Tabb Walmart was the result of a “personal relationship” dispute between two women, according to the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office.
The victim of the shooting is an employee in the store’s optometry department, Sheriff J.D. “Danny” Diggs said during a press conference Thursday afternoon.
Authorities are not yet releasing the identity of the victim or suspect, Diggs said.
Around 9:30 a.m., the suspected shooter entered the Walmart, approached the employee, displayed a gun, and told her to come outside to talk.
“She produced a gun, said let’s go outside to the parking lot to discuss this further. When they got out to the parking lot, things didn’t improve, they got worse,” Diggs said.
The woman then shot the employee.
A York County deputy was entering the parking lot when the shooting took place, and was able to quickly take the alleged shooter into custody.
Medics arrived within seven minutes of the shooting, and were able to take the victim to Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News within 15 minutes of her injury.
The victim was in surgery as of 12:45 p.m. Thursday. Other details of her condition have not been released.
The York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation into the shooting, and Virginia State Police are assisting on-scene, Diggs said.
Diggs added there “doesn’t seem to be” a mental health factor in the shooting.
The woman will likely be charged with abduction, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and malicious wounding, if the victim survives, the sheriff said.
Authorities will likely be on scene for “a couple more hours,” he said.
