Three dead in Colorado Walmart shooting, police say

Three people have died in a Colorado Walmart shooting on Wednesday night, according to police.

Customers and employees inside the Thornton store, located about 10 miles north of Denver, fled after shots broke out around 6:30 p.m. local time, police said.

Two men were killed and a woman was transported to the hospital, according to police. Another two people sustained injuries during the evacuation.

An hour after cops descended on Thornton's Town Center, police said there was no longer an active shooter at the scene. It remained unclear whether anyone was taken into custody.

Aaron Stephens, 44, said he heard one shot followed by burst of gunfire while he was in the self-checkout line, the Denver Post reported.

Stephens said he feared for his life when customers screamed and bolted for the exits.

Family members who arrived at the scene screamed with relief when they were finally reunited with their loved ones who were corralled in the parking lot outside the store after the shooting.

Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Colo., tweeted, 'Devastated to learn that one of our local communities has once again been impacted by gun violence. My thoughts & prayers are with the Thornton community tonight. Thank you to the first responders who acted so quickly.”

An investigation is still ongoing, with the FBI assisting.