Amarillo police say an armed Walmart employee likely upset for being passed over for a promotion took two people hostage before being shot and killed by officers inside the store near Interstate 27 and Georgia Street.
The man was identified by police as Mohammad Moghaddam, 54 was from Somalia and spoke mainly Farsi.
The incident began around 11:06 a.m. and was over by 12:22 p.m.
Both hostages are safe.
According to police, the incident began with one or two gunshots believed to be fired into the ceiling by the checkout area. Moghaddam then took a manager and another employee hostage in a management area of the store.
At some point, SWAT officers entered the Walmart building.
Lt. Erick Bohannon, with the special crimes unit, said as the SWAT team was getting into place a hostage ran out of an office. Moghaddam pursued the hostage and ran into officers with a weapon still in his hand.
Two SWAT officers then opened fire and killed Moghaddam, Bohannon said.
Police said they are classifying the incident as an instance of workplace violence.