A Southaven, MS, police officer was shot in his vest during a gunfight with an active shooter in a local Walmart store Tuesday morning. Two employees were killed by the gunman, officials report.

Authorities say the gunman entered the store about 6:30 a.m. local time and shot the two employees, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

Police responded to the scene just minutes after the first 911 calls were received and located the suspect in the parking lot. When officers confronted the suspect, one officer was shot in the torso and saved by his body armor. The other officers returned fire, hitting the suspect twice.

The officer who was hit in the gunfight was taken to an area hospital as a precaution, a hospital spokesperson told the Commercial Appeal. His condition was described as "uninjured."

News Channel 3 reports the suspect was suspended on Monday after pulling a knife on a customer. It appears he then returned to the store on Tuesday and opened fire.

The suspect is in custody at an area hospital. His condition was not released, according to Fox 13.