Two people were shot to death Friday in a southern California Toys R Us after an argument between rival shoppers escalated into a shooting, police said.
The incident occurred in the city of Palm Desert, some 200 kilometres southeast of California, on so-called Black Friday, the day the US retail industry kicks off its biggest shopping period before Christmas with huge discounts and bargains, dpa reported.
Initial reports were that two women were fighting and swearing and that gunfire erupted when two employees tried to break up the fight. Witnesses told the Los Angeles Times that both women involved were accompanied by men, one of whom drew a gun and shot in the air before shooting the other man in the back.
In a statement, Toys R Us stressed that the shooting appeared to stem from a "personal dispute."
"We are outraged by the act of violence that occurred this afternoon in Palm Desert ... and by the fact that anyone would compromise the safety and security of our customers and employees," the statement said.
"Our understanding is that this act seems to have been the result of a personal dispute between the individuals involved. Therefore, it would be inaccurate to associate the events of today with Black Friday."
At a televised press conference Riverside County police downplayed speculation that the killing was gang-related.
"This was an incident between these two individuals," said spokesman Dennis Gutierrez of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. He said no arrests have been made and no weapons have been recovered.
The Desert Sun quoted a Palm Desert city official as saying the shooting might have been caused by bad blood between two groups of shoppers.
"There were two groups inside that had issue with each other," said Assistant City Manager Sheila Gilligan. "And the two men inside pulled their weapons and shot each other."