Live updates | Tri-Cities Fred Meyer shooting suspect arrested on I-90 after 11-hour manhunt

12:05 a.m.

Aaron Christopher Kelly, 39, the suspect in the Fred Meyer shooting, has been arrested, Richland police said about 11:30 p.m. Monday night.

He was found on Interstate 90 between Sprague and Spokane.

He will be taken to the Benton County jail and held on suspicion of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, according to Richland police.

9:45 p.m.

Richland police posted an update on Facebook officially identifying the Fred Meyer shooting suspect as Aaron Christopher Kelly, 39.

He’s wanted on a first-degree murder warrant in the death of 38-year-old Justin Krumbah.

Kelly is believed to be driving a silver 2005 Honda Civic WA with license place number BXC3305.

Officers urge anyone who sees him to call 911 for an immediate police response. Call non-emergency dispatch at 509-628-0333 if you have other information on his whereabouts.

Police also said the surviving shooting victim, a Fred Meyer store employee, was still in critical condition at Kadlec Regional Medical Center.

“This investigation remains an active, around-the-clock effort by our investigators,” said the post.

“The Richland Police Department continues to hold the victims and their families in our thoughts during this difficult time.”

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7:45 p.m.

An Instacart shopper with a “positive can-do attitude” was identified online by friends and co-workers as the man killed Monday inside the Richland Fred Meyer.

Justin Krumbah, 38, was one of two people shot by a gunman about 11 a.m.

A GoFundMe fundraiser for funeral expenses was started just hours after the 11 a.m. shooting to raise money for Krumbah’s funeral.

By evening, 140 people already had donated $6,000.

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7:10 p.m.

A $1 million nationwide warrant has been issued for the 39-year-old suspect in Monday morning’s deadly shooting at Fred Meyer.

Aaron Christopher Kelly is charged in Benton County Superior Court with premeditated first-degree murder, online court records show.

The warrant was signed Monday by Judge Dave Petersen, who found probable cause for Kelly’s arrest.

Police have not disclosed the identities of the alleged shooter, the customer who was killed or the employee who is hospitalized with critical injuries.

However, an internal Richland Police Department “officer safety” memo, issued by Interim Police Chief Brigit Clary, identifies Kelly as the man who allegedly shot two people inside the Wellsian Way store at 11 a.m.

While police have not publicly posted the memo, Tri-Cities residents have been sharing it on their personal Facebook pages after someone got a hold of the document.

Kelly is described as being 6-foot, weighing 190 pounds with blond hair and blue eyes.

He drives a silver 2005 Honda Civic, according to the officer safety memo. It is not known if the Honda was used in the crime.

Police say Kelly was last seen wearing a “black puffy sleeveless shell/vest over black and gray plaid shirt and light colored pants or jeans.”

If someone sees the suspect or feels in danger, they are told to immediately call 911.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call 509-628-0333.

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6:07 p.m.

The Richland Parks and Recreation has canceled all activities and programs for Monday evening as police continue searching for the suspect in the deadly Fred Meyer shooting.

A Facebook post by the department announced that the Richland Community Center would close early at 6:30 p.m.

“All building doors will remain locked but monitored,” the post says. “If you have an appointment or are registered for a recreation program this evening, please call us 509-942-7529 for staff to open the door for you.”

The post goes on to say that after 6:30 p.m., all doors will be locked and the center closed for the night.

Richland also canceled events like drop-in table tennis, hunter’s safety education and the Richland Public Library’s Valentine-making activity.

People who had a scheduled AARP Tax Aide appointment for Monday evening should contact 509-542-7960 to reschedule, the post says.

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5:17 p.m.

Richland’s Interim Police Chief Brigit Clary said the agency is confident they can track down the man responsible for killing one person and critically wounding another inside Fred Meyer.

“We want to assure our community that we are taking every measure to locate the suspect,” Clary said in a late-afternoon press briefing at the Richland Police Department.

“We will not rest until he is in custody.”

Detectives were able to identify the suspect through “multiple investigative efforts,” including posts with his picture shared on social media.

They do not yet have information on the suspect’s vehicle.

Richland police have been assisted by law enforcement from throughout the Tri-Cities, along with officers from Walla Walla, Umatilla County and Boardman, Ore., Spokane and the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.

Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Marshals Service also have been on scene to assist with the investigation.

The Wellsian Way store will be closed overnight, with detectives expected to be inside for at least six to eight more hours, Clary said.

When officers first arrived at 11:04 a.m., they started life-saving measures on the two men who had been shot inside.

Police were unable to save the one man, but officers carried the wounded Fred Meyer employee out of the store to waiting paramedics, said Clary.

“What happened in our city today was a senseless and tragic act,” she said. “Our hearts and thoughts are with the families of the victims and the employees at the store and all of our community that have been affected.”

Police are not releasing the names of the suspect or either victim at this time.

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4:15 p.m.

The man who was killed inside the Richland Fred Meyer had a heated conversation with the suspect just moments before he was shot, police say.

Commander Chris Lee said investigators do not know what the “interaction” was about, or whether the two men even knew each other before multiple shots were fired.

“Initial reports were of yelling and possible gun shots within the store,” the police department said in a news release of the 911 calls that started coming in at 11:03 a.m.

The first officers were on scene within one minute.

Police continue to search the immediate area for the wanted “middle-aged white male,” but say the investigation goes beyond that.

The man is considered to be armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call 509-628-0333. If someone sees the suspect or feels in danger, they are told to immediately call 911.

Any witnesses who have not yet been interviewed by detectives and have left the scene should contact Kennewick police Commander Randy Maynard at 509-528-1313.

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2:42 p.m.

Richland police say they have identified the suspect they are looking for but are not releasing his name yet to the public.

They confirmed in an afternoon press briefing that the man who was killed was not a store employee.

The man who was wounded was a Fred Meyer employee. He was in surgery Monday afternoon at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland and is considered in critical condition, said police Commander Chris Lee.

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2:35 p.m.

Richland School District announced that all of its campuses are now on normal release and bus schedules, with additional staff supervision.

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2:32 p.m.

Fred Meyer posted a statement about the shooting:

“We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred at our Fred Meyer ... in Richland. The entire Fred Meyer Family offers our thoughts, prayers and support to all affected individuals and families during this difficult time, and we have initiated counseling services for our associates. We are cooperating with law enforcement, and the store will remain closed while the police investigation continues.”

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2:30 p.m.

Two union presidents representing grocery store workers issued a joint news release saying their members are in shock over the Fred Meyer shooting.

United Food and Commercial Workers 1439 and UFCW 21 both expressed deep concern for victims and survivors of the shooting.

“Our communities are standing together in support of our co-workers and others in the Richland community who have been impacted by this shooting,” said Eric Renner, president of UFCW 1439. “Workers in our local grocery stores have experienced many safety concerns over the last two years under COVID. This tragic shooting is another shock to all of us.”

“No one should have to worry about their safety when going into a store to get groceries for their family,” he continued. “We stand together with everyone in our community against this violence.”

Faye Guenther, president of UFCW 21, said: “Today, and in the coming weeks, we will do whatever we can to get support to the workers from this store and the local community.”

UFCW 1439 represents workers in the Richland store — which is a subsidiary of The Kroger Company — along with workers at other grocery stores in eastern Washington, and in food processing and other industries.

UFCW 21 represents workers at grocery stores in western Washington and many other industries across the state, including health care workers in Richland.

The two unions combined represent more than 50,000 workers across Washington, northeast Oregon and northern Idaho.

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2:05 p.m.

The Richland School District, at the request of Richland police and fire, has provided two school buses to assist with reunification efforts between employees and customers who were inside the store and their concerned loved ones.

All Richland schools and facilities remain in “non-critical lockdown” as police continue to look for the suspect, who got away after the shooting.

Families of Richland students will be notified as soon as the lockdown is lifted, the district said.

A “non-critical lockout” also was declared at all Pasco School District campuses and facilities in response to the shooting.

A news release from the Pasco district says all students have been allowed normal operations within the building, but are not allowed to go in and out of school buildings.

The district made that decision in collaboration with the Pasco Police Department as a precaution. Pasco families also will be notified as soon as the lockout is lifted.

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1:52 p.m.

A news briefing has been called at 2:15 p.m. by the Richland Police Department.

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One person was killed and at least one other wounded in a Monday morning shooting inside the Richland Fred Meyer store.

Police were called about an active shooter at the 101 Wellsian Way store at 11:04 a.m.

The suspect is a white man with a handgun who is believed to have fled the store after the shooting, said Richland police Commander Chris Lee.

If he got away from the store, police do not know if he ran away or drove off, Lee said.

Photos from store surveillance footage show the suspect was wearing a plaid shirt with a dark-colored down vest, a black gaiter or scarf pulled over his nose, light-colored pants and athletic shoes.

The man wears his hair in a side part.

Kennewick police originally released a picture of a truck that was believed connected to the suspect, but said later Monday it was not involved.

People who recognize the man and know his identify, or have any information about his whereabouts, are asked to immediately call police at 509-628-0333.

Once Richland and Kennewick police posted pictures of the suspect and his truck on social media, emergency dispatchers started getting reports of possible sightings of the man at another Richland grocery store and an apartment complex.

Meanwhile, officers continued to go aisle by aisle inside the store looking for employees and customers and any possible evidence.

People reportedly hid and sheltered in place in stock rooms, restrooms, the pharmacy and offices until police could reach them to escort them out safely.

Employees and customers then were directed to wait in the parking lot, where several could be seen hugging and crying.

One witness said they heard at least 10 shots fired inside the store.

Police, sheriff’s deputies, troopers and federal agents from across southeastern Washington and Umatilla County were called in to help. A chaplain also responded to the scene.

Richland High, Carmichael Middle, River’s Edge High, Marcus Whitman Elementary, Lewis and Clark Elementary and Christ the King School were on lockdown during the search, according to school officials.

Washington State Patrol troopers have shut down the entire span of Wellsian due to the police activity, and have asked people to avoid the area.

Police have not yet said where people who weren’t involved in the incident can gather to meet up with loved ones who were inside the store.

This story is breaking and will be continually updated.

This story was originally published February 7, 2022 at 11:27 AM with the headline "Live updates | Tri-Cities Fred Meyer shooting suspect arrested on I-90 after 11-hour manhunt."