An argument over a Pokémon card vending machine turned violent Saturday evening, leaving one man hospitalized and another in police custody. The shooting occurred outside a Kroger grocery store in Indianapolis around 6:50 p.m., according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
Officers arriving at the scene found a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the parking lot. The victim was rushed to a local hospital in serious condition, where he underwent surgery. Officials have since confirmed he is in stable condition.
Investigators say the dispute began inside the store near a machine that dispenses collectible trading cards.
According to WTHR, a witness exiting the Kroger at the time of the incident reported seeing a physical altercation break out between two men before shots were fired. According to the witness, the shooter claimed the victim had cut in front of him in line, stating, “It’s all over a Pokémon machine.”
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Police detained the suspected shooter at the scene and recovered two pistols as evidence. IMPD Capt. Don Weilhammer noted that the violence stemmed from a verbal disagreement rather than an attempted robbery.
“If it does turn out to be an argument over the Pokémon cards, I think it’s totally ridiculous,” Capt. Weilhammer said. “I’m not a collector of them. I understand that some of them are very expensive.”
The investigation is currently ongoing as detectives interview witnesses and review surveillance footage from the parking lot. No charges have been officially announced as of Sunday morning.
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