Police search for motive in deadly Grand Forks Walmart shooting

Updated: 3:15 p.m. | Posted: 5:57 a.m.

Police continue to investigate why a U.S. airman shot two employees, one fatally, before turning the gun on himself at a Walmart Supercenter in Grand Forks, N.D., early Tuesday.

Police say 21-year-old Marcell Willis walked into the store around 1 a.m. and began shooting at the first two employees he saw. Gregory Weiland, 70, of Grand Forks, died, and Lisa Braun, 47, also of Grand Forks, was injured.

He then walked deeper into the store, shot at another employee and missed. Police say he walked a bit more and then shot himself.

Andy Legg was in the Walmart when the shooting occurred. He spoke to WDAY/WDAZ about hearing gunshots and people screaming just aisles away.

"It's just something you don't see everyday and you really don't want to see," he said. "I had goosebumps for probably two hours after that ... just chilling."

Police say a handgun was found near Willis' body.

Grand Forks police spokesperson Lt. Derik Zimmel said the department won't make any assumptions as they investigate.

"We are going to flip over every rock we can find. We are going to dig. We are going to compile as much information as we can about this particular individual until we are satisfied that we know as well as we can possibly ever know, exactly what happened and hopefully why it happened," he said.

Police said there does not seem to be a link between Willis and the store or the victims. Zimmel said there didn't appear to be any communication before or during the shooting.

Brian Nick, a Walmart spokesperson, said the company is working with Weiland's family and plans to do the same with Braun's.

"We are deeply saddened about this situation and our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families," he said. "We are still learning information about the events surrounding this tragedy and assisting law enforcement in their ongoing investigation."

The store is about 20 miles from the Grand Forks Air Force Base, where Willis was assigned.

Willis' Facebook page says he was promoted to senior airman last November.

The Air Force confirmed Willis was an active-duty service member in a statement released late Wednesday morning. Willis had been stationed at the Grand Forks base since February 2013. It was his first duty station and his primary duty was supply, according to the statement.

"The airmen of Grand Forks Air Force Base are deeply saddened by this event and we extend our sincere condolences to the victims, their families and everyone affected by this tragedy," said Col. Paul Bauman, 319th Air Base Wing commander, in the emailed statement. "We are very proud of our close relationship with the Grand Forks community and are fully cooperating with local authorities and agencies."

Willis attended high school in Springfield, Tenn., where he played football.

David Evans, one of the football coaches at Springfield Tennessee High School, described Willis as "a bright, funny, service-oriented and disciplined kid." He is shocked that Willis was involved in the shooting.

A search of court records in counties where social media sources indicate Willis lived turned up no criminal history.

Attempts to reach Willis' family and friends were unsuccessful.

Zimmel said Grand Forks police are trying to track down witnesses who saw the shooting.

"If you're in Walmart at 1 o'clock in the morning and you hear gunshots you're probably running out the nearest door and you're going to keep running," he said. "We're going to try very hard to track those people down if it's possible but in large part if someone's in the store by themselves, unless they call us, we're not going to know they were there."

In an emailed statement, Grand Forks Mayor Michael Brown said the city was "deeply saddened" by the shooting.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, their families and those involved. An incident like this shakes our community. It is not normal for us in Grand Forks," he said.

The Walmart remained closed early Wednesday.

MPR News reporter Dan Gunderson and the Associated Press contributed to this report.