EL PASO, Texas October 25 2019 — An El Paso Police officer shot and killed a suspected car thief in an east El Paso Walmart parking lot late Wednesday night.

It happened about 10:30 p.m. at the Walmart located at 12236 Montana Avenue.

A spokesman for the El Paso Police Department said two officers approached the car, which matched the description of a stolen vehicle.

Police said the driver of the car drove off to try and get away, striking the two officers and dragging them. One of those officers then shot and killed the man.

Both officers were taken to the hospital, but the extent of their injuries were unclear.

Witnesses reported hearing gunshots around the time of the incident in the parking lot, which police quickly blocked off to keep anyone from leaving the scene.

Shoppers and employees at the Walmart were safe and unharmed.

They were kept inside the store as police investigated into the early morning hours. About 1:30 a.m. police began escorting them out of the building and to a nearby Lowe’s parking lot where family or friends could pick them up.

Police said those shoppers and employees would be able to pick up their vehicles in the Walmart parking lot at some point Thursday afternoon. Crime scene tape was wrapped across a significant portion of the lot.

Some off-duty El Paso police officers have worked security at area Walmart stores following the Aug. 3 mass shooting at the Cielo Vista store. It was unclear whether the officer involved was on-duty at the time or handling store security.

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