Officer Chris Walsh was among several officers to respond to 911 calls of shots fired after a vehicle collision near a convenience store. He was killed by gunfire at the scene.Image courtesy of the Springfield Police Department.
An officer with the Springfield Police Department was among five dead after a gunman opened fire on people at a convenience store on Monday morning.
According to The Hill, Officer Chris Walsh was among several officers to respond to 911 calls of shots fired after a vehicle collision near a convenience store located on Chestnut Expressway.
The agency said in a statement, "Officer Josiah Overton and Officer Christopher Walsh were first to arrive and were immediately fired upon by the suspect."
Soon thereafter, other responding officers arrived, removing the two wounded officers and making entry into the store where they found the suspect deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
At the scene, officers found three other deceased individuals and one person with a gunshot wound. That individual was transported to a nearby hospital where they were treated. Next of kin for the victims have not been notified yet.
The suspect—who has not yet been positively identified—died of an apparent gunshot wound.
Officer Josiah Overton suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Officer Walsh was a military veteran and had served with the Springfield Police Department for more than three years. He is survived by his wife and daughter.
