Richland Washington shooting: ‘Paranoid’ suspect Aaron Kelly shoplifted at Fred Meyer, employees say
Follow for the latest updates
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.New details continue to emerge about the man suspected of carrying out a deadly rampage at a Fred Meyer supermarket in Washington state.
Aaron Christopher Kelly, 39, was arrested early Tuesday following an hours-long manhunt after he allegedly shot two people, one fatally, at the store in Richland on Monday morning.
He is currently being held at the Benton County Jail on charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder. His bond was held at $1m at a court hearing Tuesday afternoon where his arraignment was postponed until 23 February.
Prior to the hearing, prosecutors revealed Fred Meyer employees recognised Mr Kelly from prior shoplifting incidents, including one just last week.
Meanwhile tributes have poured in for Justin Krumbah, the 38-year-old Instacart shopper killed in the shooting. The other victim, Mark Hill, is said to be in stable condition.
An investigation remains ongoing as the gunman’s motive has yet to be determined.
Richland Washington shooting: Everything we know about suspected Fred Meyer gunman Aaron Kelly’s rampage
Popular Instacart shopper killed in Fred Meyer shooting is remembered as ‘breath of fresh air’ by customers
Washington shooting: Suspected gunman who opened fire in Fred Meyer store arrested 150 miles away
Support floods into GoFundMe for critically injured victim
Fred Meyer customers and others who know Mark Hill, the second victim of yesterday’s shooting, have rushed to donate to a GoFundMe for his medical expenses – and to share kind words about him.
“Mark is a wonderful guy,” one donor wrote of Mr Hill, who worked at the supermarket where the shooting took place. “He loves his job and is always ready to help anyone in any way that they need.”
“Mark has to be the happiest worker,” another wrote. “I always liked saying hi to Mark as he whistled while he worked. God Bless him. May he recover with smiles.”
Police said on Tuesday that Mr Hill is still in critical condition at a local hospital.
Help us save Mark Hill, organized by Destiny Underwood
Hello everyone I am starting a gofund me for Mark Hill one of our family members who was shot… Destiny Underwood needs your support for Help us save Mark Hill
Richland, Washington shooting: Everything we know so far
Community leaders and police have described the shooting at a supermarket in southeast Washington State as “senseless and tragic.”
Suspected gunman Aaron Christopher Kelly, 39, was arrested early Tuesday about 150 miles away from the Fred Meyer store in Richland where he allegedly shot two people, killing one and wounding another, on Monday morning.
ICYMI, here’s everything we know so far about what happened:
Everything we know about suspected Fred Meyer gunman’s rampage
Witnesses recalled hearing around half a dozen shots before suspect fled
Kelly was 'paranoid' and 'spiralling mentally', says former roommate
New details continue to emerge about Aaron Christopher Kelly, 39, the suspect who has been arrested by police over the multiple person shooting at a Fred Meyer in Richland.
Kelly’s former roommate told police that he had been “spiralling mentally and is very paranoid,” according to court documents.
The roommate also said that Kelly was known to carry a gun, which made the roommate and others feel “extremely unsafe” when around him, the documents said.
In their press briefing on Tuesday, the police had said he had been on the “decline” over the past several weeks.
“Acquaintances of [Aaron Christopher] Kelly have described his condition to investigators as being in decline over the last few weeks and months,” Interim Police Chief Brigit Clary told reporters on Tuesday.
“He has been described as distancing himself from friends and family.”
Read more:
Fred Meyer suspected gunman was ‘distancing himself from friends’ before shooting
Aaron Christopher Kelly was arrested on Monday on charges of first-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter
Shooter’s motive remains unclear
Suspect Aaron Kelly’s motive in opening fire on a Fred Meyer store in Richland, Washington, has yet to be determined nearly 48 hours after the shock shooting.
At a Tuesday press conference, officials said Mr Kelly refused to be interviewed by investigators following his arrest hours earlier.
He is said to have begun shooting just seconds after engaging in an argument with Instacart shopper Justin Krumbah, who was fatally wounded.
Police said the suspect had no known prior relationship with Mr Krumbah or Mark Hill, a Fred Meyer employee who was critically injured.
READ IT: Probable cause document
The Benton County Prosecutor’s Office released the probable cause document supporting Mr Kelly’s arrest on Tuesday.
It revealed a timeline of the shooting inside the store, as well as a description of Mr Kelly’s “declining” mental state from his roommate.
Read the document in full below:
RECAP: Kelly’s first court appearance
Mr Kelly made his first appearance in Benton County court on Tuesday afternoon to face charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder.
Dressed in a dark green jumpsuit with his hands and feet in shackles, the defendant spoke only briefly to confirm his name and date of birth.
His attorney for the hearing, Katherine Bohnet, informed the judge that her colleague Michael Vander Sys had requested to take up Mr Kelly’s defense.
Ms Bohnet also asked that the arraignment be postponed by two weeks until 23 February.
Mr Kelly confirmed that he was willing to waive his right to a speedy arraignment and agreed to the new date.
Kelly accused of shoplifting
Fred Meyer employees recognised Mr Kelly in Monday’s shooting in Richland because he had a history of shoplifting, prosecutors said.
An employee at a neighboring location in Kennewick contacted police and said a man she believed to be Mr Kelly had come into her store days earlier on 3 February.
A staff member took a photo of him on that occasion after he was suspected of shoplifting. In the photo he appeared to be wearing the same clothes as the Richland suspect.
Prosecutors said Mr Kelly was known to employees for prior shoplifting incidents, however no additional details were given.
Wounded victim in stable condition
Mark Hill, the Fred Meyer employee wounded in Monday’s shooting, remained hospitalised as of Wednesday morning but is seeing some improvement, according to a GoFundMe campaign.
The organiser of the campaign, Destiny Underwood, wrote in an update on Mr Hill’s condition: “Mark is stable, he was able to wiggle his toes, squeeze his mom’s hand, and look at the doctor last night.
“He is still not out of the woods, the family said.”
Mr Hill was standing by the customer service desk in the Richland supermarket when he was shot moments after the first victim, Justin Krumbah, who was killed.
He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
The GoFundMe has raised nearly $15,000 to date.
Police questioned over Kelly’s escape
During Tuesday’s press conference, Interim Richland Police Chief Brigit Clary was asked how Mr Kelly managed to flee the store as officers arrived on the scene.
It came after she said it only took officers one minute to respond to the first reports of gunfire, which lasted around the same amount of time.
A reporter appeared to suggest that the officers mishandled the situation by letting Mr Kelly get away.
However, Ms Clary insisted that the officers acted appropriately in assessing the situation and said they did not encounter Mr Kelly on their way in.
Specifics about how he got away - and ended up 150 miles north before his arrest - remain unclear.
Victim Justin Krumbah GoFundMe hits $25,000
A GoFundMe campaign raising money for slain Instacart shopper Justin Krumbah’s family surpassed $25,000 by Wednesday as customers paid tribute to the man remembered as a “breath of fresh air”.
Mr Krumbah was filling orders at the Richland Fred Meyer store on Monday morning when he was confronted by suspected gunman Aaron Kelly, prosecutors said.
The men engaged in a 10 to 15-second argument before Mr Kelly allegedly opened fire, continuing to shoot Mr Krumbah after he fell to the ground.
The Independent’s Rachel Sharp explains what we know about the victim:
Fred Meyer shooting: Slain Instacart shopper Justin Krumbah remembered by customers
Justin Krumbah, 38, spoke of his passion for his job on social media just weeks before he was shot dead in the Washington store