Supermarket Shooting over an Argument about a Face Mask Ended in the Death of a Cashier

Tragedy struck DeKalb County after an altercation between a customer and one of the cashiers in a department store ended up in a shootout that left one person dead.

The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office (DKSO) responded to the emergency alert at a store in the neighborhood where it was reported that a cashier was gunned down.

Victor Lee Tucker entered the supermarket, but because he didn't have a face mask, the cashier refused to attend to him. The pair argued for a while until Tucker stormed out of the supermarket.

He returned a few minutes later wielding a gun, and he was said to have fired shots at the cashier. Another of the cashiers was affected as she sustained a bullet graze.

While Tucker had his gun raised at the first cashier, a DKSO officer acted as security at the store. The officer was said to have just ended his duty for the day when he happened upon the situation.

He immediately swung into action, trying to prevent Tucker from shooting the store attendant. However, it all happened in the space of a short time.

After Tucker shot her, he became engaged in an exchange of firepower with the officer. In the process, the pair shot at each other and gunned themselves down.

Bishop, Larry, and Sharmel were later arrested and charged with first-degree murder and felony firearm, among other charges.

After the DeKalb officers arrived at the scene, the cashier was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead afterward. The other injured cashier was treated at the scene.

Tucker and the deputy were also taken to the Grady Memorial Hospital, where they were in stable conditions. Authorities apprehended tucker as he tried to crawl out of the supermarket's entrance.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigations has looked into the case, and investigations are ongoing. Once this is completed, the result would be transferred to the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office.

Last year in May, a similar case was recorded in Michigan, where authorities were alerted to the killing of an officer over disputes about COVID-19 precautions.

Calvin Munerlyn, the officer involved, stopped a woman, Sharmel Lashe Teague, and her daughter from entering the Family Dollar Store in Northern Flint. Although Sharmel had a face mask, her daughter was without one.

Munerlyn declined to let them in, and they eventually left the store dissatisfied. After a while, Sharmel's husband, Larry Teague, and her son, Ramonyea Travon Bishop, stormed the place.

They confronted Munerlyn, and before long, Bishop drew a weapon and shot the officer at the back of his head. Bishop, Larry, and Sharmel were later arrested and charged with first-degree murder and felony firearm, among other charges.