Cashier dead, at least two wounded after shooting inside Georgia grocery store over COVID mask dispute

An argument over a COVID-19 mask policy culminated in a shooting at a Georgia grocery store, leaving one dead and at least another two wounded.

The violence unfolded Monday afternoon inside the Big Bear Supermarket, located just across the street from the South DeKalb County Mall in the Atlanta-Metro area, WSB-TV reported. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Victor Lee Tucker entered the supermarket 1:10 p.m and the chaos quickly unfolded a short time later as he tried to check out his items.

While DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox provided few details about the shooting, she said it was triggered when the cashier requested the 30-year-old shopper put on his face mask.

“Tucker left the store without making his purchase, but immediately returned inside,” the GBI said in a statement. “Tucker walked directly back to the cashier, pulled out a handgun and shot her.”

An off-duty officer on the scene, a veteran of the sheriff’s office, pulled out his own weapon and opened fire on Tucker, police said. The gunfire struck Tucker, but he still managed to return fire and hit the off-duty officer twice.

The off-duty officer, who has not been named, was taken to Atlanta Medical Center and remained in stable condition on Tuesday, ABC News reported.

The cashier initially struck was pronounced dead at Grady Memorial Hospital, the GBI said. Another cashier was grazed by a bullet and treated at the scene.

Tucker, who was arrested by officers as he allegedly attempted to crawl from the store, was also taken to Grady and was listed in stable condition. Charges against him are pending.