Gunman killed in Walmart shoot-out

A police chase ended with a shoot-out between an off-duty officer and a gunman in front of the Commerce Walmart March 7, according to Commerce Police Department spokeswoman Marty Cunningham.

Earlier that morning, Greenville officers responded to reports that a man, identified as 29-year-old Commerce resident Artenio Rodriguez, in a red Ford Mustang was firing shots at a bridge off of Wesley Street. He resisted arrest and made his way toward Commerce on State Highway 24/50, where Commerce police intercepted him.

At this point Rodriguez pointed his gun at Commerce officers and the two parties fired at each other before Rodriguez continued on to the Commerce Walmart. He abandoned his car at the front of the parking lot and entered the front doors with a long gun and pistol.

He was confronted by Delta County Deputy Paul Robertson, who was off-duty at the time, and the two fired shots at each other as Rodriguez tried to flee. Rodriguez was shot and killed, and Robertson was shot in the side and later airlifted to East Texas Medical Center in Tyler.

One Walmart employee, Cindy Trull, who was working at the front of the store when Rodriguez entered, heard Robertson identify himself and ask Rodriguez to lower his weapon. Trull said she yelled to customers to run to the back of the store for their own safety, even though the alert could have drawn attention from the gunman.

"I was just concerned about the customers, getting them in and getting them safe," she said.

Erin Ballotti, who was shopping in Walmart when the shooting took place, said she heard several gunshots.

"My heart just jumped into my throat," she said.

Ballotti ran with several other customers through the warehouse and out the back to escape the gunman. They remained outside the store for a short amount of time until some employees came out and announced that the store was safe to come back inside.

No other injuries were reported, although two customers were taken to a local hospital with complaints of chest pains.

Commerce Police Chief Kerry Crews credits Robertson with saving lives.

"Officers train for this type of incident in hopes of never having to use that training," Crews said. "Without the quick thinking of Deputy Paul Robertson I believe that more people could have been injured."

Robertson was released from East Texas Medical Center on Monday.