A disagreement over who was next at the checkout line inside a Columbus, Georgia Publix turned into a gun-pulling, pistol-whipping confrontation Saturday, leaving a customer injured and a couple dressed in matching dinosaur costumes facing criminal charges. Scott Harrison and Kayleigh Welch-Harrison were taken into custody at the Publix on Macon Road after the altercation, according to deputies.
The Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office said the couple got into an argument with another customer over who was next in line while checking out, according to WSB-TV. Deputies were called to the grocery store on Macon Road after a report of a customer pulling a firearm on another customer, per CBS News Atlanta.
Security Footage Shows Argument Reignite After Checkout
Publix security footage reviewed by investigators showed that even after the couple finished paying, the confrontation wasn’t over. Welch-Harrison turned around and continued to argue with the customer who they had fought with earlier, the station’s report states.
That’s when, according to the same account, Harrison pushed Welch-Harrison aside, drew his gun and pointed it at the other customer. Harrison then hit his victim twice with the gun, the outlet reported, striking the man before the situation was brought under control.
Off-Duty Officer Stepped In Before Deputies Arrived
An off-duty correctional officer who happened to be at the scene separated the parties involved in the fight before Muscogee County deputies arrived, according to the earlier-cited report. Columbus Fire and EMS treated the victim at the scene for his injuries, authorities say. The sheriff’s office did not release the identity of the victim, and the extent of his injuries has not been detailed publicly.
Charges Filed Against Both Harrison and Welch-Harrison
Harrison is charged with felony aggravated assault, simple battery, reckless conduct, disorderly conduct and brandishing a firearm, according to WTVM. Welch-Harrison is charged with disorderly conduct, the station reported. CBS News Atlanta reports that the pair remain in custody at the Muscogee County Jail.
The dinosaur costumes the couple wore during the incident have become a notable detail in reports on the case, standing in stark contrast to the seriousness of the charges Harrison now faces. No further details on what sparked the original dispute over checkout order have been released.
