Richland shooting suspect apprehended outside of Spokane

A shooting inside a Fred Meyer store in Richland, Wash. Monday morning began a daylong hunt for the alleged suspect, a former employee of the store, who fled the scene. He was apprehended early Tuesday morning outside of Spokane.

Update: Suspect has been taken into custody

Aaron Christopher Kelly, 39, was taken into custody on I-90 near Spokane, Wash. early Tuesday morning — about 145 miles from the scene of the shooting in the Tri-Cities. There was no incident upon his apprehension.

Kelly is a suspect in the Monday shooting at a Fred Meyer store in Richland.

He will be booked into Benton County Jail on first degree murder and attempted first degree murder charges.

— Anna King, Northwest News Network

Original story

Police responded to the scene one minute after a 911 call alerted officers to the shooting at the Wellsian Way Fred Meyer at 11:03 a.m. A helicopter and at least 20 police cars crowded the area, lights flashing during the palpably tense scene.

Local police have asked the public for help identifying a suspect — a white man in his thirties — caught on in-store cameras. He fled the scene immediately after the shooting. Police believe he is “armed and dangerous.”

“We believe that he is armed with a handgun,” Richland Police Commander Chris Lee told reporters Monday afternoon.“If you see him, please do not try to contact him, please call 911 immediately."

Lee said the alleged suspect and the man who died had a conversation before the shooting. Lee said police know who the shooter is, but they aren’t releasing his name, and added that the suspect has had contact with law enforcement in the past.

The injured man, who police say is an employee at the store, is in surgery at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland. He is in critical condition.

The Richland Police Department issued a call to “Citizens of Richland” shortly before noon, asking them to “avoid the Richland Fred Meyers on Wellsian Way.” A chaplain was reportedly sent to the scene of the shooting.

Benton County Deputies were seen escorting customers and staff out of the store to the Goodwill across the street. Many employees sat on the curb and waited until police officers could escort them back to their cars.

Five nearby schools and the school district support facilities initially were placed in a precautionary lockdown. Later in the afternoon, children were released as normal from schools. School bus routes ran as scheduled.

The Richland School District loaned two school buses to the Richland fire and police departments to help reunite people after the shooting, according to the district.

The unions that represent employees at the Fred Meyer — UFCW 1439 and UFCW 21 — released a statement expressing “deep concern” for the victims of the shooting.

“Our communities are standing together in support of our co-workers and others in the Richland community who have been impacted by this shooting. Workers in our local grocery stores have experienced many safety concerns over the last two years under Covid. This tragic shooting is another shock to all of us. No one should have to worry about their safety when going into a store to get groceries for their family. We stand together with everyone in our community against this violence,” said Eric Renner, President of UFCW 1439.

“Today, and in the coming weeks, we will do whatever we can to support the workers from this store and the local community,” added Faye Guenther, President of UFCW 21.

Fred Meyer president Dennis Gibson is expected to arrive in Richland today, according to Richland City Manager Jon Amundson. The Wellsian Way Fred Meyer will remain closed overnight.

Officers continue to search the Tri-Cities area, mainly focusing their search in Richland, Lee said.

“We want to assure our community that we are taking every measure to locate the suspect, and we will not rest until he’s in custody,” said Interim Richland police chief Brigit Clary during a press conference Monday afternoon.

Richland, Wash. is part of the Tri-Cities, about 200 miles southeast of Seattle.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.