KAUFMAN — A man authorities say entered a Kaufman Walmart Tuesday morning and fatally targeted an employee was also awaiting indictment on assault and kidnapping charges out of Gun Barrel City.
The sheriff department confirmed authorities were called to the scene on a report of shots fired at about 9:41 a.m. Tuesday at 300 Kings Fort Parkway.
Authorities say Donald Ray Coleman, 55, entered the store's garden center and fired multiple shots "without provocation" at 59-year-old John D. Morgan. In a statement, Capt. Ed Black said Coleman then turned the gun and shot himself in the head.
Morgan was pronounced dead at the scene while Coleman was transported by helicopter to a Dallas hospital in critical condition.
While there were others within the store at the time of the shooting, the shooter specifically targeted the employee, said Capt. Fred Klingelberger.
"At this time, we understand there was an ongoing feud between the subjects," he said. "As you can understand, the investigation is very early and we're still looking into that."
Later in the day, Henderson County District Attorney Scott McKee confirmed Coleman is the same man who allegedly pistol whipped and threatened a 50-year-old woman in January of 2015. According to a report from The Monitor, Coleman held the woman against her will after the pair became involved in a domestic argument.
Coleman allegedly tied the woman's hands together, struck her, and threatened to kill her before she was able to escape to a nearby residence.
At about 10 a.m., Kaufman ISD schools were temporarily placed on lockdowns as crews worked to clear the scene. The lockdowns were lifted about 30 minutes later.
“We’re deeply saddened by the tragic situation that occurred in our store today," read a statement from Walmart. "We’re assisting law enforcement however we can and our thoughts are with the families and our associates at this time.”
The store was scheduled to remain closed for the remainder of the day.
