Sevierville Walmart Incident was Dispute Between Armed Customers, Not Active Shooter

Reports of an active shooter at the Sevierville Walmart that resulted in mass panic among shoppers and response from multiple law enforcement agencies were actually a dispute between customers in which multiple guns were displayed, but no shots fired.

The Sevierville Walmart was busy with holiday shoppers Wednesday afternoon and the parking lot nearly full of vehicles when reports of an active shooter sent people running for their lives.

According to the Sevierville Police Department, at about 3:30 p.m. on December 23, 2020 its officers, along with officers and first responders from multiple agencies, responded to a reported active shooter at the Walmart, located at 1414 Parkway in Sevierville. Their vehicles blanketed the area in front of the Walmart store, shutting down the Parkway, as officers swarmed in response. Witnesses posted on social media that a law enforcement command center was established at the nearby Baskin-Robbins.

Word of the active shooter soon spread on social media. People posted that they were shopping inside the store when an announcement was made over the intercom to evacuate due to a potential active shooter. Some people reported hearing shots fired. More than a dozen shoppers sought refuge at the nearby Chick-fil-A, where they hunkered down away from windows, and staff locked doors and turned lights out.

Earl Gibson, a Walmart employee, says he was first to call 911 and issued the active shooter warning over the store’s intercom.

Officers entered the Walmart, helped employees and customers evacuate, and searched the store for suspects and victims. Officers located three suspects who were taken into custody but did not release their identities pending charges.

After the building was cleared, the Sevierville Police Department posted on its Facebook account that there were no known injuries to any persons.

“It has been determined that no shots were fired and no one was injured during this incident,” said Bob Stahlke, public information officer for Sevierville. “The preliminary investigation indicates that this was likely a dispute between store customers wherein multiple guns were displayed.”

On behalf of the Sevierville Police Department, Stahlke thanked the quick response and invaluable assistance of numerous area agencies, including the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, Pigeon Forge Police Department, Gatlinburg Police Department, Sevierville Fire Department, Sevier County Emergency Management Agency, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Sevier County Ambulance Service, and Sevierville Emergency Management.

The Sevierville Walmart remains closed at this time and calls to the store went unanswered.

UPDATE:

Investigators have charged two persons in connection with the altercation that occurred Wednesday at the Sevierville Walmart.

65-year old Pedro Salisipan Ngayan, Jr. of Pigeon Forge has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault, and 22-year old Dashawn Leon Bonner of Pensacola, Fla. was charged with one count of misdemeanor assault.

According to SPD Detective Lieutenant Ray Brown, Bonner allegedly pushed Ngayan down during an argument, whereupon Ngayan displayed and pointed a handgun at Bonner.

Bonner retreated to another location in the store, followed by Ngayan. Bonner then displayed and pointed his own handgun at Ngayan.

No shots were fired during the altercation.

Ngayan was transported to the Sevier County Jail for booking. Bonner was cited and released.

In the earlier media release, it was noted that three persons were in custody, however it has been determined that the third person was not involved in the altercation. Therefore, he was not charged.