Suspected gunman killed in shootout with police outside Walmart in east Texas

Suspected gunman killed outside Walmart in Texas

COMMERCE, Texas — A man walked into a Walmart carrying at least two guns before engaging in a shootout with police outside the store, authorities said. The man was killed and an off-duty officer in the store was shot in the chest.

The shootout Sunday in the east Texas city of Commerce began when police received a call that shots had been fired from a car in nearby Greenville, about 50 miles northeast of Dallas, said City of Commerce spokeswoman Marty Cunningham.

Commerce police intercepted the car just outside the city limits, where the man exchanged gunfire with officers, Cunningham said. He then drove to Walmart and entered the store “carrying a long gun and pistol,” the spokeswoman said.

Cunningham said an off-duty officer from another agency was in the store and saw the man leave.

The officer, Delta County Deputy Paul Robertson, tried to stop the suspect in front of the store, Delta County Sheriff Gerald Teague said. Robertson, 42, was shot as he exchanged gunfire with the suspect, Delta County Sheriff Gerald Teague.

“Obviously, he saved lives,” Teague said. “There’s no telling what the guy was going to do in Walmart with those weapons.”

Robertson was expected to be released from the hospital Monday.