PICTURED: Georgia cashier, 41, who was fatally shot and sheriff's deputy who was wounded by gunman, 30, after he was told by clerk to pull his mask up
The cashier who was shot dead and the off-duty sheriff's deputy who was wounded after a male customer pulled out a gun and opened fire when told he had to pull up his face mask in a Georgia grocery store on Monday have both been identified.
Victor Lee Tucker Jr., of Palmetto, Georgia, got into an argument with 41-year-old clerk Laquitta Willis at the Big Bear grocery store in DeKalb County on Monday over their store's mask policy.
The 30-year-old Tucker appeared to leave after the argument, but returned moments later, holding a handgun, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Tucker fatally shot Willis before he was shot and injured by a retired deputy, 54-year-old Danny Jordan, a 30-year veteran of the DeKalb County Police Department, who was working as a security guard.
Laquitta Willis, 41, has been identified as the cashier at a DeKalb County, Georgia supermarket who was fatally shot after telling a customer to pull his mask over his nose
Victor Lee Tucker Jr., of Palmetto, Georgia, had got into an argument with Willis at the Big Bear grocery store in DeKalb County on Monday over their store's mask policy
Another cashier was grazed by a bullet fired by Tucker, according to investigators.
DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox said Tucker managed to fire back twice, hitting the off-duty cop both times. Jordan is expected to survive.
The deputy, Jordan, was working part-time in a security job at the store according to 11Alive.
A retired deputy, 54-year-old Danny Jordan, a 30-year veteran of the DeKalb County Police Department, who was working as a security guard, shot and wounded Tucker. Jordan was also wounded in an exchange of gunfire
A witness, identified as Alan Williams, said Tucker walked into the store, struck the cashier with a gun, then shot her which is when the deputy and the suspect exchanged gunfire.
Tucker and Jordan were both taken to Grady Memorial hospital for treatment.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation which is now assisting with the incident, Tucker was found crawling out the front door of the supermarket.
Jordan was listed in stable condition, but the condition of Tucker is not known.
The cashier, Willis, was officially pronounced dead at Grady Hospital.
Jordan is a retired deputy and member of a reserve unit. The unit consists of certified law enforcement officers not actively working for a law enforcement agency.
Such deputies can work with a sheriff’s office on a volunteer basis and can work part time security jobs, the sheriff’s department said.
Willis was shot dead after an argument with a customer in Georgia. Victor Lee Tucker Jr., 30, of Palmetto, allegedly entered the store and argued with staff about wearing a mask
DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox said the suspect, Victor Lee Tucker Jr. managed to fire back twice, hitting the off-duty cop both times
The deputy was working part-time in a security job at the Big Bear store
Maddox said the deputy's response might have kept other people from being hurt.
'That is what he is trained to do,' Maddox said.
The supermarket is located near The Gallery at South DeKalb mall but is not a tenant of that complex, authorities said.
Decatur is a suburban community about 6 miles east of downtown Atlanta.
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