Kroger Shooting in Collierville, Tennessee Leaves One Woman Dead, 14 Injured

Fourteen people are wounded and a mother of three is dead after a shooting at the Kroger store in Collierville, Tennessee, police said Friday. 

The shooter, UK Thang, 29, shot 10 employees and five customers before taking his own life as police arrived at the scene, said Collierville Police Chief Dale Lane in a press conference Friday. Lane would not name the shooter during the press conference. 

The woman who died was Olivia King, Lane said. She was a customer at the Kroger, and a widowed mother of three.  

“Our family is devastated by this senseless act of violence,” King’s family said in a statement Thursday. “We ask everyone for their prayers for all families and friends affected by the events today, as well as for God’s mercy on the shooter and his family.” 

Lane confirmed Thang was a lone gunman who was a third-party vendor for Kroger. There were no explosives involved, and the shooter was not carrying any explosives in his backpack, said police. Lane said police are not ready to release a motive and do not want to speculate.  

Lane said the actions of the employees and customers at the store prevented more injuries and deaths. Police said they removed people hiding in freezers, closets and between pallets of groceries. 

“As we entered that building, it was very obvious that the employees and even the customers knew what to do, whether it was run, hide or fight,” said Lane Friday. “They did what they had to do until we could get in there and help them.” 

Police said a citizen flagged down a squad car in the parking lot informing them of the shooting happening at Kroger. Police received the first radio call about the incident four minutes later, said Lane. Police said the shooting happened in a matter of minutes.  

“Our sole priority was neutralizing any potential threat and putting ourselves between the subject and any potential victims,” said Lane. “At that moment, it’s all about stopping the threat.” 

Collierville Police Department detectives and the FBI evidence response team executed a search warrant at 885 Federal Ridge Road. Evidence from that location is being processed to include all electronic evidence, said Lane.  

“We’re continuing to process the scene behind us,” said Lane. “This should go probably late afternoon, maybe into the late evening hours.” 

Police said officers and firemen of all rank fearlessly ran into the building to stop the shooter and help the victims.  

“Our guys did not hesitate one minute,” said Chief of the Collierville Fire Department Buddy Billings. “I’ve been in the fire service for 44 years. I’ve never been so proud of a group of people in my life. Looking in their faces yesterday, there was no hesitation to go anywhere to help their fellow man.” 

Lane and Billings both credited combined training and ballistic equipment as the reason more lives were able to be saved. 

“We had a combined training exercise on June 4,” said Billings. “One of the first things I talked to Chief Lane about when he came here two years ago was getting together and training so we’re on the same page.” 

Regional One Health said they received eight patients shortly after the shooting, including Olivia King. Three remain in critical condition, and three required emergency surgeries after they arrived, said Dr. Andy Kerwin, chief of trauma at Regional One.  

“We have some of the finest trauma surgeons in the nation here at Regional One Health,” said President and CEO of Regional One Health Reginald Coopwood. “They were ready, they were prepared, they functioned, and lives were saved.” 

Regional One dispatched five helicopters to the scene, and three more helicopters were dispatched from other agencies, said Dr. Peter Fischer, MD at Regional One. Fischer said no patients were transported by air and that all were transported by ambulances.  

“The key is to get the patients here as quickly as possible,” said Fischer in a press conference Friday. “The ground ambulances did exactly what they were supposed to do, which was grab the patients and move.” 

Kerwin said additional staff were called to the hospital to aid in the influx of patients from the shooting. 

“We plan, we train for these mass surge events,” said Fischer. “We’ve been working very hard for the last five years on our plan.” 

Regional One said six patients are still in the hospital. 

“While the event is terribly unfortunate, the response was incredible,” said Kerwin. “Great teamwork. Incredible job by all facets of our trauma program.” 

Lane said the Collierville community must be alert and vigilant while recovering from the shooting. 

“I would encourage the community, don’t live in fear,” Lane said. “This is a tragedy, but we have to move on. We can’t let them win.” 

The Town of Collierville released a press statement following the shooting, calling it “a tragedy unlike anything the Town of Collierville had ever experienced.” 

“We are grateful for the immediate and professional response from the Collierville Police and Fire Departments, and the support from our neighboring local, state and federal law enforcement,” said the statement. “The Board of Mayor and Aldermen express condolences to the victims, families and friends involved in today’s senseless tragedy.”