Three men – all from Schuylkill County – have been charged in connection with the Walmart shooting incident back on Nov. 10, 2024.
Based on court documents filed by police in Saint Clair, more details are known about what reportedly happened inside the store that evening after they were called to the Walmart for a report of an active shooter in the building.
The incident drew a massive police response from all over Schuylkill County. It shut down the store from about 4 p.m. that Sunday for the rest of the night. And it prompted some nearby stores in the Coal Creek Commerce Center to cease operations, albeit temporarily.
According to those court documents, upon their arrival, Saint Clair police entered the store with a rifle deployed. Numerous people inside said they thought they’d heard a gunshot in the store. Police did not hear any shots at the time of their arrival but continued to help evacuate the store.
As the store was being cleared, police from Pottsville radioed and said they had a male in custody that could have been the shooter. Pottsville Police were located near the entrance and exit by the vehicle service garage bays. Saint Clair and Pennsylvania State Police then went to that location.
That individual – identified as Rayhiem Mitchell, 22, of New Philadelphia – told police he was unarmed at that moment and that he did, indeed, let off a warning shot earlier while inside the store. Police asked Mitchell where the gun was and he said he’d put it in his girlfriend’s vehicle prior to approaching police.
Upon a search of that vehicle, police recovered a Glock 42 .380 caliber handgun. Mitchell’s girlfriend – identified as Tanis Frost, 26 on the day of the incident – was then placed in the back of a patrol vehicle by police, pending her giving a statement. Later, both were taken back to the Saint Clair Police headquarters for questioning.
Meanwhile, other officers worked to clear the scene inside Walmart and the origin of the shooting incident was identified. At that location, near an aisle of Christmas decorations and merchandise toward the front of the store, police said they found a spent bullet casing on the ground, a Walmart shopping basket, and some merchandise on the floor near aisles 6 and 7.
Back at the Saint Clair Police station, Mitchell and Frost were interviewed separately and both gave “very similar” accounts as to what happened inside the store. Police say Mitchell and Frost were both “fully cooperative” through the entire process. Each provided verbal and written statements to police.
This is what they say happened prior to Mitchell allegedly firing his gun in the air:
Mitchell, Frost, and another friend, Kydiere Teel, had all gone to Walmart to get a tire fixed on Mitchell’s vehicle. Mitchell and Teel went into the store to start the tire change process with the Walmart automotive center. All three then went into the store while the automotive employees completed the work on the tire.
Eventually, all three were at the aisle with Christmas decorations near the front of the store. While looking at the decorations and candy, they told police, Mitchell was hit by a man identified as Tyre Dunn, 36, of Pottsville.
After Mitchell was hit, another man – identified by police as Jaheim Gregory, 22, of Pottsville – allegedly threatened Frost if she tried interfering in the incident. That caused Frost to back up. When that happened, Dunn and Gregory allegedly both started beating on Mitchell in that aisle.
Mitchell told police that during this altercation, he felt someone grab for his gun while he was on the ground. He said he fought to not allow anyone to grab his gun and at the time, he was in fear for his life and the life of Frost.
Dunn and Gregory then got off Mitchell and while on the floor, Mitchell told police he drew his firearm in an attempt to end the altercation and get Dunn and Gregory to stop attacking him. Mitchell said he pointed the gun in their direction to get them to run but either Dunn or Gregory had allegedly grabbed his arm while the gun was out.
Police say Mitchell then “chambered a round and proceeded to point the firearm in the air and fire off one shot as a warning shot.” The warning shot caused Dunn and Gregory to run out of the store and Mitchell got up off the ground.
Mitchell and Frost say they left the area of the altercation and proceeded to the restrooms so he could wash the blood off his face. Police say Mitchell had a one-inch laceration above his left eyebrow, a bloody nose, and a small cut on a finger on his left hand.
Together, Mitchell, Frost, and Teel left the store while it was being evacuated but Mitchell reportedly said they couldn’t leave because he had to tell police what had happened.
Further investigation revealed that Mitchell was the legal owner of the gun used in the incident. However, he did not have a concealed carry permit. Surveillance footage from inside the Walmart was secured and reviewed and it was determined that Mitchell allegedly concealed the gun under a black hoodie throughout his time in the store.
Therefore, police have filed a single charge against Mitchell for having an unlicensed concealed firearm, which is a third-degree felony. Dunn and Gregory are each facing a simple assault charge, a second-degree misdemeanor, and summary offenses of harassment and disorderly conduct.
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