The Beavercreek Walmart was the site of a shooting this past Monday, marking the first major incident since the high-profile police-involved shooting at the same location over nine years ago. John Crawford III was fatally shot by police on August 5, 2014, after being reported to have carried a rifle and pointing it at women and children. It was later discovered that the reported rifle was actually a pellet gun found in an opened box in the store. Surveillance footage showed that Crawford did not point the weapon at anyone, yet an officer still opened fire shortly after announcing themselves.
In 2020, the City of Beavercreek settled a wrongful death lawsuit with the estate of John Crawford III for $1.7 million. In addition to this tragic shooting, the Beavercreek Walmart has seen its fair share of other incidents in recent years, including a fire that forced the store to close on November 6, 2022. Two juveniles were identified as suspects, with one 15-year-old boy being arrested and charged with aggravated arson, vandalism, and inducing panic. The store was able to reopen the following day after firefighters successfully extinguished the fire.
This fire was not the first incident involving the Beavercreek Walmart and fires. In March 2018, solar panels caught fire on the store’s roof, resulting in evacuations and causing millions of dollars in damages over the years. Walmart sued Tesla for negligence due to the repeated incidents involving their solar panels. Despite these setbacks, the store continues to operate, serving the community near the Mall at Fairfield Commons.
