In a ‘remarkable act of violence,’ a Delco man opened fire at a Walmart checkout, DA says
Armani Waite has been charged with attempted murder and related crimes in connection with the shooting, which took place Friday night in the store's crowded self-checkout area, prosecutors said.
A Clifton Heights man who fired a gun three times in a crowded Walmart, injuring a bystander, has been charged with attempted murder, Delaware County prosecutors said Monday.
Armani Waite, 21, surrendered to police Monday afternoon, but District Attorney Tanner Rouse said investigators had identified him almost immediately after the Friday night shooting and issued a warrant for his arrest.
Waite remained in custody Monday, in lieu of $1 million bail. His attorney, Arik Benari, did not immediately return a request for comment.
“It is a remarkable act of violence, and it is really extraordinary that more people were not hurt by this,” Rouse said, noting that more than 30 people were standing in the store’s self-checkout area when Waite drew his gun.
“This could have been an absolute calamity, and the truth of the matter is it’s his own ineptitude that kept this from being a whole lot worse.”
Rouse said the shooting took place after a “relatively innocuous, relatively short” verbal dispute between Armani and another customer in the store, located on MacDade Boulevard in Glenolden.
During the dispute, the other man lifted his shirt to show Waite he had a gun tucked into the waistband of his pants, according to the affidavit of probable cause for Waite’s arrest. When the other man turned around to leave, Waite drew his own gun and began firing, Rouse said.
One of the bullets flew through a glass door and struck a female employee as she was standing outside the store, he said. She was treated for her injuries and is in stable condition, according to the prosecutor.
Waite does not have a license to carry a concealed weapon, according to investigators. The man he targeted does have a concealed-carry permit, authorities said, and does not face criminal charges.
Rouse said it was unclear what the two men were arguing about, but stressed that Waite was solely responsible for the shooting.
“There is no basis for him to say ‘I was in fear for my life,’” Rouse said. “He was the aggressor here, plain and simple.”
Waite dropped the gun as he fled the store, and it was later recovered by investigators. He also dropped the keys to his car, which investigators used to identify Waite and track him down, according to Rouse.
He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 11.
