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One dead, one injured in shooting at Walmart in Farmington

Suspect died from self-inflicted gunshot wound; police investigating
Farmington Police Department blocked off the north entrance to west Walmart and taped off the parking lot while investigating a shooting Thursday afternoon. A preliminary report states a 53-year-old Shiprock man shot a woman he had a prior relationship with before turning the gun on himself. (Curtis Ray Benally/Special to the Tri-City Record)

Farmington Police have released more details about a shooting around 12:31 p.m. Thursday in the parking lot of the West Main Walmart.

The suspect was described as a 53-year-old Shiprock man, who had been in a “prior relationship,” with 40-year-old woman, who worked at the Walmart.

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“Preliminary investigation indicates that the suspect ... intentionally targeted the victim,” Farmington police spokeswoman Shanice Gonzales said. “The suspect had entered the victim's vehicle, at which point the suspect shot her before fatally turning the gun on himself.”

The unidentified woman was taken to San Juan Regional Medical Center with a life-threatening injury, according to Gonzales, who said she was in stable condition.

The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.

The names of both individuals are being withheld pending family notification, according to Gonzales, who said the investigation remains active and more updates will provided when new information becomes available.