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Police have identified 29-year-old UK Thang as the gunman responsible for injuring fourteen people and killing another during a mass shooting in Collierville, Tennesee on Thursday. Little is known about Thang at this time, but ABC News has described him as a "third-party vendor for Kroger."
During a press conference earlier today, Collierville Police Chief Dale Lane said that a motive has not been determined and he declined to specify what type of gun had been used during the shooting. Lane also noted that Thang did not have a violent criminal history before Thursday's shooting.
“I believe misdemeanor arrests but nothing related to violence,” Lane said, according to ABC News.
As reported by FOX 13 in Memphis on Thursday, Thang entered the store Thursday afternoon and a call was placed to the police at approximately 1:30 p.m. Four minutes later, officers arrived at the scene to discover more than a dozen people had been shot. Adding to the violence, reports indicate that Thang also shot and killed himself. From there, SWAT officers began clearing the grocery store's aisles and assessing any further damage. Meanwhile, another group of officers began searching Thang's car and personal belongings.
“This is the most horrific event to happen in Collierville history," Collierville Police Chief Dale Lane said.
While Lane and his colleagues work to determine Thang's motive, members of the Collierville community continue to mourn the life of Olivia King. King, a 70-year-old Tennessee, resident was fatally wounded in the shooting.
"Our family is devastated by this senseless act of violence. We ask that you pray for the repose of the soul of our mother, Olivia," King's son, Wes, told ABC News.
"We also ask everyone for their prayers for all families and friends affected by the events today, as well as for God's mercy on the shooter and his family. Thank you."
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