Corlunda McGinister, 21, was fatally shot by Mississippi police officers inside a Walmart store while holding an employee hostage.
Shot And Killing a Woman
Mississippi police officers shot and killed a woman holding a Walmart employee hostage in a tense ordeal caught on camera Wednesday.
Corlunda McGinister, 21, was fatally shot by officers inside the megastore’s Richland location after strangely pleading to speak to a news anchor while she held a petrified worker, according to authorities and footage of the incident.
Richland police reported on social media Wednesday that there was an “incident at Walmart with a weapon” around 5:45 p.m.
Images circulating online showed a woman, who appeared to be holding a gun, making a specific demand.
“Hey, get me a newscaster here right now,” the woman said as she appeared to have the gun in one hand, while she used the other hand to hold the hostage.
“I need help, I need help,” she said, according to the footage. “Give me a newscaster down here.”
The woman also said that she has no intention of hurting anyone. She resisted calls to let the woman go during the terrifying episode, according to the video.
“I’m not trying to hurt anyone,” the woman said. “Give me a newscaster.”
The footage also showed police officers repeatedly demanding that she drop the gun on her as she continued to insist on a newscaster.
Richland Police Chief Nick McLendon told WAPT the tense incident was “devastating” for everyone.
“It’s devastating for all parties involved: the officers, everyone who was involved in this situation,” McLendon said.
When a man pleaded with Corlunda McGinister to let the worker go, she says: “I’m not trying to hurt anyone.”
Police officers repeatedly demanded of Corlunda McGinister that she drop her gun as she continued to insist that a newscast be presented to her.
“You know, with the holiday season coming up, mental health is a big issue because of the stress that comes with the holiday season,” said McLendond, who reported that no one else was injured in the shooting.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is conducting an independent investigation into the shooting.
The Walmart was reopened on Thursday, according to WLBT.
Police were stationed inside and outside the Walmart to make shoppers feel safe, the news station reported.
This article is authored by Alejandro Gonzalez.
