On Wednesday, a 21-year-old armed woman walked into a Walmart in Richland, Mississippi, and grabbed an employee, holding her at gunpoint while demanding to speak to a news anchor.

The dangerous situation was initially reported around 5:45 pm by the Richland Police Department in a statement on their Facebook page, saying, “RPD is working an incident at Walmart involving a weapon the scene is secure and we will provide updates when they become available. We ask to avoid the area at and around Walmart at this time.”

Inside Walmart, part of the incident was captured on video. It shows a clearly terrified female employee being held hostage at the front of the store, as well as the police arriving on the scene.

Corlunda McGinister, an Arkansas resident, held a gun in one hand and held onto the employee with the other as she screamed her odd demands for a news anchor to be brought to the scene. She repeatedly yelled, “Give me a news anchor down here right now!”

When police officers arrived on the scene, they demanded that she drop the gun, let the employee go, and surrender. However, the woman refused to comply and continued to ask for a news anchor.

Since McGinister refused to release the woman being held at gunpoint, the officers had no choice but to shoot and kill her in order to save the life of the employee.

The Richland Police Department announced this on their social media and said that the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation will be conducting an investigation into the shooting.

The post said, “RPD had an officer-involved shooting this evening at Walmart, all of our officers are safe! Walmart is secure and closed at this time. MBI will be conducting an independent investigation.”

The MBI refused to comment on the case since it is “an ongoing investigation.”

Richland Police Chief Nick McLendon reported that the incident’s outcome was “devastating” for everyone.

“It’s devastating for all parties involved – the officers, everybody that was involved in this situation,” he said. “You know, with the Christmas season coming, mental health is a big deal because of the stress involved in the Christmas season.”

On Thursday, the Walmart reopened its doors to customers while law enforcement was stationed both inside and outside to help shoppers feel safe.

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