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EDMONTON – Two people were taken to hospital after an upset customer pepper sprayed several people at a west Edmonton Walmart.

It happened Tuesday night, after a customer got into an argument with staff at the customer service desk at the Walmart in Westmount Centre, said Greg Winter, District Fire Chief with Edmonton Fire Rescue.

“When you get it discharged at you full frontal it will completely disable you. You’ll have a very difficult time seeing and breathing. And in fact, your first thoughts when that happens are about your own survival and nothing else,” said Winter.

READ MORE: Edmonton police officer pepper sprayed after car chase

Two people who were hit directly were taken to hospital. At least 10 others standing nearby were also affected.

“Several were assisted by our crews as we helped to wash them down, get rid of some of the residue from the pepper spray.”

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“There was quite a bit of irritation of breathing and eyes and that sort of stuff,” Winter added. Tweet This

The store was evacuated while fire crews ventilated the building and washed down the customer service area to try and get rid of the “gross amount of pepper spray that had been discharged.”

The suspect fled the scene. Edmonton police are investigating.