A man shot and killed a woman and a toddler inside a Florida supermarket on Thursday morning before turning the gun on himself, according to authorities.
The Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office sent deputies at 11.40am to the Publix store on Royal Palm Beach Boulevard, where they located three people – a man, woman and child – dead from gunshot wounds and a handgun.
The sheriff’s office said the gunman was among the deceased.
Officials are now trying to determine if there was a relationship between the male shooter and his two victims.
A man shot and killed a woman and a toddler inside a Florida supermarket on Thursday morning before turning the gun on himself, according to authorities. The crime scene
The Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office sent deputies at 11.40am to the Publix store on Royal Palm Beach Boulevard
Bystander photo shows an armed officer outside the site of the deadly shooting in Palm Beach, Florida, on Thursday, in the immediate aftermath
The woman and child are relatives and were with each other at the time of the shooting, reported NBC6.
Officials did not confirm if the woman is the mother of the child.
Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay said the deceased child was a toddler. They would have turned two later this month.
The sheriff’s office said it is ‘possible’ the gunman and the victims ‘knew each other’ but provided no further details about the potential relationship.
The adults and the child have not been named and the child’s gender is not yet known.
‘This was NOT an active shooter situation,’ the sheriff’s office stated, without providing any further details.
Detectives are on the scene investigating what prompted the shooting.
At a press conference Thursday afternoon, officials said they were reviewing surveillance footage and speaking to witnesses.
A row of patrol vehicles are seen outside a Dollar Tree store near the supermarket on Royal Palm Beach Boulevard after the shooting on Thursday
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s officers stand outside of a Publix supermarket where a woman, child and a man were found shot to death
Three people – a man, woman and child – were found dead from gunshot wounds inside
The Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office said in a tweet the incident is ‘NOT an active shooter situation’
Witnesses described hearing three gunshots sending staff and customers running to safety from the supermarket.
Customer Lynn Waterman told Sun-Sentinel she was at a cash register paying for her purchases when she heard what she initially mistook for the sound of popping balloons.
Suddenly, Waterman said the cashier announced there was a shooter and took off running.
A witness who was at a bank nearby told WPBT he saw a stampede of around 50 people fleeing from the Publix store.
Dr. Ron Glassman said he heard yells of ‘active shooter’ and ‘get out, get out’ as customers and staff ran for cover.
Officers stand outside the store. Officials are now trying to determine if there was a relationship between the male shooter and his two victims
The woman and child are relatives and were with each other at the time of the shooting. Officials did not confirm if the woman is the mother of the child
The sheriff’s office said it is ‘possible’ the gunman and the victims ‘knew each other’ but provided no further details about the potential relationship
‘I saw about 50 customers and staff leave in, I would say, about 10 or 15 seconds,’ Glassman said.
Publix is Florida’s largest grocery store chain with 817 locations.
Publix spokeswoman Maria Brous said in a statement that the company was working with law enforcement.
‘Our thoughts are with those who are impacted by this tragedy. We are cooperating with the local law enforcement,’ she said.
‘Since this is an active police investigation, we cannot confirm any additional details.’
An aerial image of law enforcement responding to the scene of the shooting Thursday morning