Retired Cop's Holstered Gun Prompts Scare Inside Beaumont Walmart

BEAUMONT, CA — A retired law enforcement officer who went shopping at the Beaumont Walmart Superstore Thursday morning prompted a scare after the holstered gun he was carrying was spotted by a store employee.

The Beaumont Police Department reported it received "several" calls about an active shooter at the store located at 1540 E. 2nd Street.

"Callers were [Walmart] employees who reported hearing there was a shooter in the store but were unable to confirm hearing gunshots," police said in a social media update.

Several employees self-evacuated the store and when police officers arrived they checked the building and spoke to witnesses.

By 7:47 a.m. police confirmed the store was safe.

It was determined that the active-shooter calls started after a store employee caught a glimpse of the ex-cop's gun, according to police.

During the investigation, the former law enforcement officer was briefly detained but Beaumont police reported that at no time during Thursday's incident was the man's weapon ever unholstered or displayed "in any fashion."

No shots were ever fired, according to the agency.

The former officer had a valid California concealed carry weapon permit, according to Beaumont police spokesperson Marcedes Cashmer. The permit allows a person to carry a concealed pistol, revolver or other firearm.

No one was injured in Thursday's episode.

Information about the retired officer was not released.

Beaumont police acknowledged that, amid ongoing national events, people are nervous.

"When events like the recent school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, occur on a national level, understandably, we see an increase in concerns within our local community," the department said in a released statement. "Oftentimes these events spur rumors and other reports, especially via social media, which further adds to the anxiety our community is already feeling. While this morning's events were a false alarm, we do appreciate our community's vigilance and are grateful for the ability to work together with our citizens to keep Beaumont safe."

In 2019, Walmart "respectfully requested" that customers no longer openly carry firearms in its stores, even in states where open carry is permitted. Authorized law enforcement officers were the only exception. At the time, the retailer said there were no changes to its concealed carry policy.