A man is critically hurt following a shooting at a Kroger on N. Clinton Street Wednesday night.

Police responded to a report of shots fired and one person down in the store in the 4100 block of Clinton around 6:30 p.m. As officers were on the way, dispatch received more calls that multiple shots were fired and that someone ran away from the store.

Once officers arrived, they assembled a team to enter the store and another group to help people inside escape. Police found the victim down in the back of the store. They were able to secure the store after no suspect was found.

A witness told WANE 15 the shooting happened in aisle 5. The gunman fired three shots at the man.

“It literally happened inches from my children like if he would have missed he would have hit my 4 year old child,” said witness Cassandra Brown. “Just the fact that they could have hit my child is unreal for me.”

The victim was taken to a hospital in serious condition but was later downgraded to critical.

Shortly after the incident, detectives started interviewing witnesses. They also started looking over security cameras from inside the store to get a possible description of the shooter and to establish a sequence of events.

Investigators believe it was an isolated event and not a random act of violence.

A spokesperson from The Kroger Co. issued the following statement Wednesday night:

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim. We are grateful to the customers who helped, especially the nurse who offered medical expertise. We also appreciate the response of the store’s assistant manager and the police who reached the scene so quickly. We are cooperating with law enforcement as officers conduct their investigation.” Eric Halvorson, Kroger spokesperson

Police finished their investigation and turned the store back over the managers. Kroger stated the store reopened at 6 a.m. Thursday.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Fort Wayne Police Department Detective Bureau at 427-1201 or Crime Stoppers at 436-STOP.