By: Robert Davis

Last year, an armed pastor shot and killed a gunman in a Tumwater, Washington Walmart after the shooter injured two shoppers and attempted to carjack six others.

The pastor, who asked to remain unidentified, also works with Oakville, Washington’s volunteer firefighter force where he is a lieutenant and medic, according to a report by KIRO 7 News.

"He is a hero. This [suspect] could have taken out more people, wounded or killed," one witness told King5Seattle. "[The suspect] hijacks a car apparently to get here, then hijacks another car. If this customer hadn’t done what he did…. Yeah, he’s a hero."

Three armed customers pursued the gunman after his initial two shots. Two of them were approaching the gunman as the pastor fired the fatal shot through his car window.

According to the Tumwater Police Department, the gunman went to the Walmart to get more ammunition after he stole a vehicle from a nearby Toyota Dealership.

Once he arrived at the Walmart, he entered the store and fired shots at a display case without hitting any of the people inside. The gunman then turned his attention to the shoppers in the parking lot.

One shopper, identified by King5 as Rick Fievez, is in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds. His family started a GoFundMe to help pay for his medical bills.

Another witness ran into the store, grabbed a medical kit, and began treating Fievez before paramedics arrived on scene.

Sixteen-year-old Donner Parton was shot in the hand when he refused the gunman’s command to stop his car.

“Without [the pastor], how many lives could [the gunman] have taken?" Barton asked King5. "So super-thankful for that hero."

Robert Davis is a general assignment reporter for Gunpowder Magazine. You can contact him with tips or comments at RobertDavis0414(at)gamil.com.