Police make arrest in Louisiana Walmart fight initially reported as involving gunfire

Police in Baton Rouge, La., have arrested a man involved in a fight at a Walmart that authorities initially said involved gunfire.

Law enforcement first told The Advocate and a local Fox affiliate that a person was injured in a shooting that resulted from an altercation between customers, but later said that while a gun was involved, no shots were fired.

“Preliminary investigation results gathered are that a shooting incident did not occur, however the investigation is ongoing,” the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

Police said they responded to a report of a shooting and arrived at a “very chaotic scene” at the store.

“Panicked customers were running from the front and rear entrances to the store, and told initial responding Deputies that they could hear ‘popping’ sounds that they believed to be gun shots,” the police department said in its statement, adding that one of the suspects was in possession of a handgun.

One man was arrested for disturbing the peace and aggravated assault with a firearm, while another received a misdemeanor for disturbing the peace, according to The Advocate.

East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux said officers responded appropriately.

“The national climate regarding these incidents has the nation on edge, and citizens’ anxiety levels are much higher than normal,” he told The Advocate in a statement. “We are in a position that we must respond according to our protocols and training to ensure that we are keeping our citizens safe.”

Earlier this month, 22 people were killed in a shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas. Several hours later, nine were killed in shooting in Dayton, Ohio, in the city’s nightlife district.

Updated at 2:17 p.m. on Aug. 13.