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Breaking News -- March 4, 2009

Police: Walmart shooting suspect kills self

PHOENIX (AP) — Authorities say a suspect the shooting of an elderly couple outside an Arizona Wal-Mart has killed himself after being stopped by police in New Mexico. Donald Belanger died Tuesday after being pulled over near Albuquerque for driving slowly, New Mexico state police spokesman Peter Olson says. The 55-year-old Belanger was suspected in a shooting Monday outside a Wal-Mart in Show Low, Ariz., that killed a woman and critical wounded her husband. The motive was unclear. New Mexico police say the officer who stopped Belanger saw a flash as he approached the car and realized Belanger had shot himself. Two handguns and what Olson described as "some sort of suicide note" were in the car. Authorities discovered later that Belanger was wanted in Arizona, he said.

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March 2, 2009

Walmart Shooter Kills One, Injures Another

Shooter flees scene in "small white vehicle" heading south on White Mountain Road

Story and photos by Brad Solomon

A sad and surreal scene greeted Show Low Walmart shoppers upon entering the parking lot on Feb. 2, a warm Spring-like Monday. Much of the central parking lot was cordoned off with yellow crime tape while dozens of police, fire department and homicide investigators kept shoppers and curious bystanders away from several tightly parked vehicles surrounding the body of one of the shooting victims about 20 yards from the southern store entrance. According to Show Low Police Sergeant Shawn Roby, the police received a call reporting shots fired at Walmart at 8:41 a.m. Witnesses reported that an elderly couple had left the store and were walking to their vehicle when

both were shot by a lone shooter. One person was killed at the scene and the other, seriously injured, was taken to nearby Summit Medical Center. The injured person was reportedly in surgery at 3 p.m. that afternoon. The shooter headed south on White Mountain Road in a small white car and was still at large as of late Monday. Phoenix NBC affiliate Channel 12 reported robbery as the apparent motive on its 5 p.m. newscast.

According to Show Low Fire Department Captain and Public Information Officer Brent Mix, the Fire Department was paged at 8:41 on a “first alarm” medical emergency at Walmart. He explained that a first alarm call indicates that more than one person is involved. Captain Mix confirmed that there had been one fatality and that the body was still on the scene. Another police officer said that a red cone on top of a white van marked the shooting scene.

At least a dozen vehicles were parked tightly around the body to block the line of sight to onlookers while investigators took measurements and police stood by.

Captain Mix, with the Show Low Fire Department for 14 years, said this was his first homicide saying “It’s something you just don’t expect in Show Low.” Sergeant Roby stated that in his 10 years with the Show Low Police Department, he had worked on only two other homicides, both of which occurred within the last few weeks.

Walmart remained open for business throughout the day, but crowds appeared to be much lighter than usual with few lines at checkout counters. Walmart store management had no comment on the incident and a call to Walmart’s Phoenix Community Relations office had not been returned as of Monday evening.