Investigators said the employee was not involved in the dispute that led to gunfire inside the busy Delaware County store.
DARBY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Police were searching Saturday for a gunman who fled a Delaware County Walmart after opening fire during an argument and wounding a store employee, authorities said.
The shooting happened shortly after 7 p.m. Friday at the Walmart at 50 MacDade Boulevard in Darby Township. Investigators said two men were arguing in or near the store’s self-checkout area when one of them pulled out a handgun and began firing. A female Walmart employee who was not part of the dispute was struck in the calf.
The employee was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Authorities did not release her name or further details about her condition.
Investigators gave differing preliminary descriptions of the number of shots fired. Darby Township Police Chief Michael Sousa described a round being fired indiscriminately during the confrontation, while investigators cited by local news outlets said between five and 10 shots may have been fired. Police were reviewing evidence to determine the exact sequence.
The shooter left the store before officers arrived and remained at large in the latest public update. Police had not released his name, a detailed description or information about the second man involved in the argument. No arrests or criminal charges had been announced.
Officers from multiple agencies converged on the shopping center after receiving reports of gunfire. Police cleared the Walmart and checked nearby businesses as shoppers and employees sheltered or moved away from the area.
Several people were briefly detained so investigators could gather information, according to authorities. Police did not describe those people as suspects. Detectives were examining store surveillance video and interviewing witnesses in an effort to identify the shooter and trace his path after he left.
The Delaware County District Attorney’s Office said it was assisting with the effort to identify the gunman. Officials said they did not believe there was an ongoing threat to the general public after officers secured the Walmart and surrounding businesses.
Authorities had not disclosed what started the argument or whether the two men knew each other. Police also had not said whether a weapon was recovered or whether investigators believed anyone else helped the shooter leave the area.
Walmart said the safety of its workers and customers was a priority and thanked first responders for their response. The company said it was cooperating with law enforcement as the investigation continued.
The gunman remained unidentified and at large Saturday. Detectives continued to review surveillance footage and other evidence while seeking information from people who were in or near the store Friday evening.
Author note: Last updated August 1, 2026.