Security is Key to Preventing a Store Shooting in Yakima

Yakima Police work closely with area retailers to prevent violence like the shooting that happened at the Richland Washington Fred Meyer store on Monday. Police say 39-year-old Aaron Christopher Kelly walked into the store on Monday morning, exchanged words with a man and then opened fire killing one man and critically wounding another. Kelly was arrested on Monday night and is being held in the Benton County Jail on charges of murder and attempted murder.

Security cameras have become a vital tool for stores and police

Capt. Jay Seely with the Yakima Police Department says large stores like Fred Meyer have extensive security camera systems which helped authorities in Richland identify the shooter on Monday. The security system helped Yakima Police identify a man who they say tried to kill a 66-year-old woman at the Yakima Fred Meyer store in 2020. Shortly after the attack police released security images that eventually lead to the arrest of 28-year-old Muhammad Tariq. Police say he walked into the store on July 17 of 2020, stole a knife walked up to a woman near the vegetable section and slashed her throat. He then walked away and was arrested hours later.
The 66-year-old woman was treated at a local hospital and released in good condition. Tariq was charged with attempted murder. It's unknown if he was eventually convicted on that charge.

Yakima Police say the system was upgraded after the 2020 attack

Seely says the store on 40th Avenue in Yakima not only has a inside video security system but also outside as well including a large camera set up in the middle of the parking lot. That system, says Seely is set up to discourage car prowls and shoplifting.