Taylor – A “quick-thinking and brave” Walmart employee disarmed Solomon Dominguez who had been holding fellow employees at gunpoint.
According to the Snowflake-Taylor Police Department, on Monday, July 27, at approximately 4:48 a.m., the Department received a 911 call from an employee at Walmart, who said that Dominguez came through the garden center while employees were preparing the store to re-open. A second employee also called 911, who said they heard what sounded like a gunshot just outside of the store.
Dominguez, age 52, or Conchho, Arizona then held employees at gunpoint.
Officers arrived on scene and secured the building. Dominguez then called 911 demanding to speak with an officer. A Snowflake-Taylor Police
officer began speaking with him and negotiating. During negotiations Dominguez became distracted and placed his handgun on the counter inside the store. An employee grabbed the gun at the same time and he and the remaining staff inside the store ran out of the store.
The employees contacted an officer in the parking lot and turned over the handgun. They told the officer that they believed Dominguez may have more weapons with them.
The White Mountain Special Response Team arrived and a negotiations began negotiations began with Dominguez. After several minutes, the Team entered the store through an open back door. The Team was able to de-escalate the situation and Dominguez was quickly taken into custody.
Dominguez was arrested and transported to the Summit Medical Center in Show Low for an evaluation.