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RICHFIELD — Police arrested a Richfield man Monday after they say he discharged a gun inside a Walmart store.
Zachery James Hampton, 26, was booked into the Sevier County Jail for investigation of reckless endangerment, possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, carrying a concealed loaded firearm, violation of a protective order and possession of a controlled substances and drug paraphernalia.
Hampton was at a self checkout at Walmart, 10 E. 1300 South in Richfield, about 12:45 p.m. and "was apparently adjusting the handgun that was being held in the waistband of his pants when it went off," according to Richfield police.
"The witness stated the male paused at the self checkout and then dropped his items and stated, 'I have to go,' then ran out of the store, according to a police booking affidavit. "The witness stated that he was told by others that the male was waving his gun outside the Walmart entrance as he was leaving."
Police say several customers were in the same area when the gun was fired. "Some jumped when they heard the gunshot and several were close enough to be hit, depending on the bullet trajectory," the affidavit states.
Hampton has a protective order against him that indicates he isn't allowed to possess any guns, according to police.
Officers located Hampton an hour later and discovered that he suffered a single bullet wound to his right leg during the incident, the affidavit says. He was taken to a hospital, where police say he had a pipe in his pants that tested positive for methamphetamine.
