Just after 1:00 AM local time Tuesday morning, Marcell Willis, 21, walked into the Grand Forks Supercenter about a dozen miles from the Air Force base where he was stationed and started shooting, in what may have been a random attack.
— TJ Nelson (@TJNelson_Anchor) May 26, 2015
Willis shot and killed one store employee, and hit another who survived, before shooting himself. So far, investigators have not been able to identify a motive.
"We've not been able to find any linkage to him and any of the victims," police Lt. Derik Zimmel told reporters at a news conference. "There's no apparent motive that jumps out at this time."
— Callie Young (@callieyoungg) May 26, 2015
Willis, who was found with a handgun near his body, was the only person who fired a weapon during the incident, according to Zimmel. The second employee who was shot was taken to Altru Hospital and was in satisfactory condition.
"I saw people running. At that time, we heard people screaming, one yelling for help," said Any Legg, a customer in the store at the time of the shooting. He told the Associated Press that he saw the body of the slain employee as police escorted them out of the building,
"It's just something you don't see every day and really don't want to see," Legg said. "I had goose bumps for probably two hours after that."
Willis also reportedly shot at and missed a third store employee, and police believe that only three shots were fired in total. Due to the early morning hours there were only about 30 store employees and 20 customers in the store, according to Wal-Mart spokesman Brian Nick.
The names of the victims have not yet been released by police.
"Please Wake Me Up From This Nightmare"
Social media posts from those who apparently knew Willis held no clues Tuesday as to what might have led the young man to open fire at random.
— Alex Riddle (@alexriddle1022) May 26, 2015
— Mason Wix (@Lilhurt71) May 26, 2015
— Trisha Crutcher (@trishanicholeee) May 26, 2015
Willis' Facebook page indicates he was in a relationship with Amy Mehs, who took to the social media site to express her anguish over the incident, indicating that she and Willis were to be married in September, according to local station KVRR.
"Please rest easy my sweetheart. I hope you feel no pain where you are today," Mehs posted, saying she couldn't articulate her feelings about what happened, and closing her post by saying, "I know you loved me. I know you know I loved you. Lord, please wake me up from this nightmare."
Speaking to the AP by phone, a tearful Mehs declined to comment on the incident.
"I really can't say anything right now because it's still under investigation," she told the AP. "You guys will find out everything eventually."
Grand Forks Mayor Michael Brown said in a statement that he was "deeply saddened" by the shooting,
"An incident like this shakes our community," Brown said. "It is not normal for us in Grand Forks."
