Colin Flaherty: I'm Sorry I Shot Up the Nice Walmart Store Everybody

Colin Flaherty Commentary Video "Suspect in Cheltenham Walmart shooting: "I'm sorry"" and "Cheltenham Twp. Walmart shooting suspect apologizes, bail set at $1M"

WPVI – Philadelphia•August 15, 2018
A suspected gunman has apologized after a shooting injured several people inside a Walmart in Cheltenham, Montgomery County Tuesday afternoon.

https://6abc.com/suspect-in-cheltenham-walmart-shooting-im-sorry/3957670/
Friday, August 17, 2018 02:26PM
The suspect has been identified as 30-year-old Keenan Jones. He faces charges of Criminal Attempt-Murder, Aggravated Assault, Reckless Endangering Another Person, Resisting Arrest, Possessing Instruments of Crime and Persons Not to Possess Firearms.

The affidavit of probable cause says Jones has several prior felony convictions, which means he can't possess a firearm. He is being held on $1-million cash bail. The judge granted the district attorney's bail request believing Jones' history of intimidating witnesses in prior cases and fleeing police in this most recent incident indicates he is a flight risk.

During his arraignment, Jones told the judge he hasn't slept in five days and ate food that made him "feel strange." He told the judge he suffers from mental issues and felt he was going to die "for no reason."

In exclusive video obtained by Action News, Jones issued an apology as he was being brought into Cheltenham police station late Tuesday.

"I'm sorry, man. I thought somebody was going to kill me," the suspect says in the video.

Investigators say after a dispute occurred at the checkout line, the suspect pulled a gun from a female companion's waistband and opened fire. The 25-year-old woman was taken into custody after the shooting. She has been identified as Jones' sister. Officials say she legally owned the handgun and will not face charges.

The surveillance, according to the affidavit of probable cause, shows Jones standing in the checkout line. He started to walk towards the back of the line, officials say, when he pulled out a gun and fired a single round at a man who was standing feet away, striking him. The district attorney's office says that by all accounts, Jones did not know the man.

Jones began running through to the front of the store and surveillance shows him firing additional shots indiscriminately as victims, employees, and customers run for safety, according to the affidavit.

The surveillance video shows people, including elderly and young children, trying to escape the gunfire, officials say. During the incident, police say a pregnant customer was knocked to the ground and required medical treatment.

A female employee told investigators she was standing by the customer service area when she thought she heard glass breaking near the registers. She decided to walk towards that area and as she got closer, she told police she noticed a man, later identified as Jones, walking away quickly with a gun in his hand, down by his side.

Police say Jones then fired at the woman, striking her three times at close proximity.

Arriving officers discovered five victims suffering from non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.

The affidavit says Jones resisted arrest and a violent struggle ensued. During the confrontation, one officer suffered a fractured right wrist and another suffered abrasions, contusions, a black eye, and a sprained ankle. Other officers arrived to assist and Jones was taken into custody.

Authorities say following his apprehension, Jones attempted to kick out the window of the police vehicle and was subsequently shocked by officers with a stun gun. He was transported to Einstein Medical Center.