Police: Store employee shot in chest while escorting man out of Federal Way Winco

A grocery store employee was airlifted to the hospital after being shot in the chest while escorting a man out of the store, police said.

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - A grocery store employee was airlifted to the hospital after being shot in the chest while escorting a man out of the store, police said.

Officers were called around 1:00 p.m. to the WinCo store on SW Campus Dr. in Federal Way. When they arrived, officers found a 30-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the chest.

Police performed life-saving measures until medics arrived. The victim was airlifted to Seattle's Harborview Medical Center where he was listed in serious condition.

Federal Way Police said they used a K9 in an effort to track the suspect, but could not locate him at the time. The 24-year-old suspect has since been arrested.

Investigators said the suspect was being escorted out of the store after he tried to buy alcohol and was denied because he appeared intoxicated.

A nearby elementary school was briefly on lockdown.

Throughout the afternoon dozens of people pulled up to the grocery store unaware of the violence which occurred earlier in the day.

"She’s my world, and I’m just scared now because she works here. She’s on the outside of here, but still I’m scared for her and the rest of the employees around here," said Amanda Stone who was dropping her daughter off at the WinCo for work.

The WinCo store remained close for the rest of the day and night. Store reps said the store would reopen at 8 a.m. Friday.

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