An Ohio Costco employee, 61-year-old Randolph 'Randy' E. Corrigan, was fatally shot on April 25 after reportedly turning away a man carrying a firearm from the Strongsville store. Authorities arrested 22-year-old Christian M. Bryant of Fort Worth, Texas; he was arraigned on a murder charge and held on $5 million bond. Court documents say the suspect had a drum magazine visible, produced a semi-automatic handgun when confronted, and later told police he acted in self-defense. A GoFundMe to help Corrigan's family has raised nearly $30,000 toward a $40,000 goal.
Costco Employee Fatally Shot After Turning Away Armed Man at Strongsville Store
Randy CorriganCredit: Randy Corrigan/Facebook
An employee at the Costco on 16690 Royalton Road in Strongsville, Ohio, was shot and killed on April 25 after allegedly refusing entry to a man who was carrying a firearm, police said.
What Happened
Strongsville Police identified the victim as 61-year-old Randolph 'Randy' E. Corrigan, a Cleveland resident and Costco employee. The shooting occurred at about 5:45 p.m. local time, and Corrigan sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his chest, arm and abdomen. He later died, according to court records cited by local outlets.
Suspect, Charges And Court Proceedings
Police arrested 22-year-old Christian M. Bryant of Fort Worth, Texas, in connection with the shooting. Bryant was arraigned in Berea Municipal Court on April 27. Strongsville Police said he was charged with murder, an unclassified felony under Section 2903.02(A) of the Ohio Revised Code. Judge Sean Kilbane set bond at $5 million, following a police recommendation. The case is expected to be presented to a grand jury and additional charges could be filed.
Randy CorriganCredit: Gofundme
Court Documents
Court documents obtained by WJW indicate Bryant entered the store with a drum magazine visible in one of his pockets. When a Costco employee confronted him and told him he could not enter the store while armed, the documents say Bryant produced a semi-automatic handgun and shot Corrigan. The filings also indicate Corrigan approached the armed man carrying a pocketknife before being shot. Bryant reportedly told police that 'a man approached me with a knife for no reason' and that 'I defended myself.' Strongsville Police say the investigation remains active.
Strongsville Police: The case is under investigation and will be presented to the grand jury at a later date. Additional charges may be added.
Community Response and Funeral Support
A GoFundMe was launched to help Corrigan's family cover funeral expenses and to find long-term care for the 86-year-old woman for whom he was the primary caregiver. The fundraiser describes Corrigan as 'an amazing, funny, and generous man' who loved working at Costco, enjoyed joking with coworkers, and cherished his hobbies, including Jeeps, his Irish roots, and tattoos. His family said his remains will be scattered in Corona Del Mar, California, per his wishes. As of the time of reporting, the fundraiser had raised nearly $30,000 toward a $40,000 goal.
Local outlets Cleveland.com and WJW reported details from police and court filings. PEOPLE and other outlets have reached out to Strongsville Police for further updates.
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