Police say no active shooter at Walmart in Waxahachie, TX

Waxahachie Police Department · At approximately 6:01 PM this evening, the Waxahachie Police Department received several 911 calls reporting that people were running out of the Waxahachie Walmart due to a possible loud noise that may have resembled gunfire. The store was evacuated, and officers performed a complete and thorough search of the store, including reviewing security camera footage. Based on the investigation, there was no indication that any shots had been fired and it was determined there was no threat to the public. The property was given an all-clear at approximately 7:00 PM.

Waxahachie Walmart Shooting Investigations – Police in Waxahachie and Ellis County Sheriff’s Office are on the scene of an active incident at the Walmart store Sunday. According to reports, shoppers are workers have been evacuated from the Walmart Store located on N Hwy 77, Waxahachie, TX. following reports of an active incident. Law enforcement agencies investigating the incident have not confirmed if this is an active shooting incident. Everyone is urged to stay away from the Walmart store at this time.

 

ALSO READ: Officer-involved shooting investigations in Austin, TX

The officer-involved shooting that happened on Thursday, July 20, 2023, is still under investigation by the Austin Police Department (APD). At around 4:54 a.m., Austin 9-1-1 Communications received a call from a woman who reported that a guy was chasing her in the 3600 block of Menchaca Road.

A Caucasian female wearing blue denim shorts and a turquoise top was the subject of the caller’s description. The caller reported seeing a woman waiting outside his door. Officers from the APD were called to the spot at 4:55 a.m. and arrived at about 5:00 a.m. to start questioning the female who matched the caller’s description.

A man with a knife was chasing the woman through the apartment building, according to the woman. The female witness characterized the male suspect as a 60-year-old white male, 6’3″ tall, with gray hair, and last seen wearing a dark shirt and navy blue or black basketball shorts. At 5:03 a.m., cops reported over the radio that they had seen a male racing west through the complex. Mr. Woodrome turned out to be the man in question.

At 5:06 a.m., Mr. Woodrome walked up to the cops in the apartment complex parking lot as they were talking to the woman. The man approached the police officer, brandishing a knife. Mr. Woodrome was ordered to put down the knife by police. Officers repeatedly issued orders to Mr. Woodrome to calm the scene.

He ignored the police’ orders and pleaded with them to fire and kill him. One officer used a Taser provided by the Department, but it had no impact. Mr. Woodrome took a step toward the law enforcement officials. Officers kept yelling at Mr. Woodrome, “Drop the knife and back away from us,” further increasing the gap between themselves and Mr. Woodrome. The female was also asked to wait by the police.

Another officer used a Taser issued by the Department on Mr. Woodrome, but it had no effect. Mr. Woodrome, knife in hand, kept coming closer and closer. Mr. Woodrome was knocked unconscious after a police fired a weapon sanctioned by the department at him. Mr. Woodrome found a knife on the floor next to him. The officers took the knife and put it out of Mr. Woodrome’s reach.

Once the knife was removed and the area was deemed secure, the cops began CPR and called for an ambulance. At 5:19 a.m., Mr. Woodrome’s lifeless body was pronounced at the scene. No additional bystanders or police officers were hurt in any way.

Three police officers were equipped with body cameras that recorded the event. The footage will be made public within ten business days, as required by APD policy. The APD officer who used the department-issued pistol has served with the agency for three years and five months.

One of the officers who used a Taser issued by the Austin Police Department has 13 years and 3 months of service, while the other officer who used a Taser has only been with the department for 8 months. All three officers have been placed on administrative leave as is standard procedure for the APD. Both the APD Special Investigations Unit and the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, as well as the APD Internal Affairs Unit and the Office of Police Oversight, will be conducting separate but parallel investigations into the incident.

Please contact the APD’s Special Investigation Unit at (512) 974-6840 or Capitol Area Crime Stoppers at (512) 472-8877 if you have any information that could help with this investigation. You can leave a tip with Austin Crime Stoppers via austincrimestoppers.org, just like you would with Capitol Area Crime Stoppers. The choice to stay anonymous is yours.

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