A Costco employee talks on the phone following a shooting within the wholesale oulet in Corona Friday evening June 14, 2019 which left one person dead and 3 others injured, including the shooter. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Scattered shopping carts and a flipped over beach chair lays on the ground following a shooting inside a Costco in Corona Friday evening June 14, 2019 which left one person dead and 3 others injured, including the shooter. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

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The Corona police department investigate a shooting inside a Costco in Corona Friday evening June 14, 2019 which left one person dead and 3 others injured, including the shooter. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

A member of the Riverside Sheriff’s department extends the perimeter outside of the Corona Costco following a shooting within the wholesale warehouse Friday evening June 14, 2019 which left one person dead and 3 others injured, including the shooter. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

The Corona police department investigate a shooting inside a Costco in Corona Friday evening June 14, 2019 which left one person dead and 3 others injured, including the shooter. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)



The Corona police department investigate a shooting inside a Costco in Corona Friday evening June 14, 2019 which left one person dead and 3 others injured, including the shooter. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

The Corona police department investigate a shooting inside a Costco in Corona Friday evening June 14, 2019 which left one person dead and 3 others injured, including the shooter. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

The California Highway Patrol officer investigates a shooting inside a Costco in Corona Friday evening June 14, 2019 which left one person dead and 3 others injured, including the shooter. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

The Corona police department investigate a shooting inside a Costco in Corona Friday evening June 14, 2019 which left one person dead and 3 others injured, including the shooter. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

The Corona police department investigate a shooting inside a Costco in Corona Friday evening June 14, 2019 which left one person dead and 3 others injured, including the shooter. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)



The Corona police department investigate a shooting inside a Costco in Corona Friday evening June 14, 2019 which left one person dead and 3 others injured, including the shooter. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Heavily armed police officers exit the Corona Costco following a shooting inside the wholesale warehouse in Corona Friday evening June 14, 2019 which left one person dead and 3 others injured, including the shooter. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Heavily armed police officers exit the Corona Costco following a shooting inside the wholesale warehouse in Corona Friday evening June 14, 2019 which left one person dead and 3 others injured, including the shooter. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Heavily armed police officers exit the Corona Costco following a shooting inside the wholesale warehouse in Corona Friday evening June 14, 2019 which left one person dead and 3 others injured, including the shooter. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Heavily armed police officers exit the Corona Costco following a shooting inside the wholesale warehouse in Corona Friday evening June 14, 2019 which left one person dead and 3 others injured, including the shooter. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)



Heavily armed police officers exit the Corona Costco following a shooting inside the wholesale warehouse in Corona Friday evening June 14, 2019 which left one person dead and 3 others injured, including the shooter. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Updates:

Injured, off-duty Los Angeles police officer, part of an “officer-involved shooting” at the store, is released from the hospital, officials announce Saturday

The store opens later than usual, at 11:48 a.m.

*****

Police said one person died and at least two others were injured after gunfire rang out inside a crowded Costco in Corona on Friday night, causing panic among terrified shoppers and employees who fled for safety or huddled inside the sprawling warehouse store.

Corona police Lt. Jeff Edwards said an argument preceded the shooting, which left one man dead. Two others were injured by gunfire, including an off-duty officer; the suspected shooter also may have been injured, officials said.

Edwards said a suspect in the shooting was detained.

Corona Police Officer Tobias Kouroubacalis said Saturday the off-duty Los Angleles Police Department officer was part of “an officer-involved shooting” at the Costco, but declined to provide further details.

The officer, from the Southwest Division, was hospitalized but later released, authorities said.

Identities of the suspect or victims were not immediately available. Other details about what may have prompted the argument, and the ensuing violence, also weren’t known.

Kouroubacalis said police received the report of the shooting at 7:46 p.m. and arrived one minute later.

Witnesses reported hearing as many as seven shots inside the warehouse store at 480 N. McKinley St. Word spread quickly on social media just after 8 p.m.

Aurtis Wilson was among those inside. He said he heard two people arguing near the store’s produce section.

“And the next thing I know I hear seven shots,” he said in an interview outside the store.

The retired Marine grabbed his wife and adult daughter and, like others in the crowded store, ran. As he ran, he said, he saw the shooter firing at several people.

“This is crazy,” he said.

Will Lungo, 45, of Corona, said he and his wife were near the refrigerated produce and alcohol sections when he heard gunshots.

“I thought maybe someone dropped a bottle of wine, but then I kept hearing shots,” Lungo said.

Corona police and fire personnel were on scene at Costco on McKinley Street in Corona late Friday. (Courtesy photo)

Corona police and fire personnel were on scene at Costco on McKinley Street in Corona late Friday. (Courtesy photo)

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Corona police and fire personnel were on scene at Costco on McKinley Street in Corona late Friday. (Courtesy photo)



Lungo said he didn’t hear any arguing, but did hear roughly six shots. He and his wife ran into a refrigerator to take shelter.

Christina Colis, who was also inside the store at the time, said she was in the produce area when she heard six to seven shots. She and others hid in the room where produce is kept cold. She said her mother saw people injured on the floor.

“An employee came in and helped us out through the emergency exit,” Lungo said. “We didn’t see anything.” Colis said they were in that area for about four minutes before an employee helped them to the emergency exit.

As they went outside the store, police ordered them to put their hands up.

“You wouldn’t expect it here. It’s very scary,” Colis said.

Luis Rafael said he was in the shopping center to eat dinner at Del Taco. He was outside the Costco when he saw customers fleeing and heard screams. He hid behind a tree with his sister and her children.

“We thought the shooter was going to come out and shoot everybody,” he said.

Rafael said he saw six people loaded into ambulances. He didn’t know the extent of their injuries.

“It’s a shock to the community. I’ve lived here 21 years and I’ve never experienced anything like this,” Rafael said.

Police said the situation was “stabilized” as of 9:09 p.m.

Besides Costco, the shopping center also is home to other major stores, including a Home Depot and restaurants.

Corona police secured numerous personal items from shoppers who had to exit the store quickly, the Department said. Anyone looking to get their belongings back was urged to call 951-817-5788 to arrange for pickup with proper identification.

Shopping bags or other items may be retrieved from Costco by calling 951-279-1190, police said.

On Saturday morning, a security guard stood outside the store, turning away customers.

Becky Mendoza of Norco was able to pick up a cake she had ordered for her first granddaughter’s baby shower that was being celebrated Saturday.

Mendoza said a Costco employee called her to say she could come to the front of the store Saturday morning and that she would be handed the cake, which reads “Welcome Baby Willis.”

Costco did not charge Mendoza for the cake.

The store opened at 11:48 a.m.