‘They knocked the gun away’: 2 killed in grocery store shooting, good Samaritans tackle suspect

LAS VEGAS (KVVU/Gray News) — Authorities in Las Vegas say two people were shot and killed Tuesday morning at an area grocery store.

According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, officers responded before noon to Smith’s supermarket for reports of a man firing a gun inside.

Police said arriving officers found the suspected gunman being restrained by three people. Officers then entered the store and found a man and a woman, both in their mid 40s, shot. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

The man and woman were husband and wife, according to investigators.

Police said the suspect, who was taken into custody, had previously been in a relationship with the woman and was involved in custody issues with their children.

During a press briefing, police said the armed man was found with “several different weapons” and suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the shooting.

A witness said she saw customers holding the shooter down until police arrived minutes later.

“I was on the pharmacy side of the store when I heard shots from the produce side of the store. It was like eight shots”, she said. As a former Smith’s employee, I know the protocol. So, since I was by this door, I started hurdling people out the door, getting people out of the store."

She continued, “One gentleman ran up and was trying to tackle him. Another guy ran in and between the two of them, they knocked the gun away and got him down on the ground.”

Smith’s management said the store is working with authorities and is “deeply saddened by this senseless act of violence.”

Police did not immediately identify the couple killed. KVVU later identified the suspect as Alejandro Alfonso Estrada. Records indicated he has been charged with two counts of open murder and aggravated stalking.