2 arrested in Orlando Walmart armed robbery

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Two people were arrested Wednesday in connection with a robbery at an Orlando Walmart.

Investigators said Roderick Houser, 24, and Malcolm Shabazz, 24, were questioned and arrested.

At about 12:50 a.m. Wednesday, two men armed with handguns and wearing masks, entered the Walmart at 8990 Turkey Lake Road, deputies said.

Customers and employees were rushed from the store as deputies swept the building, investigators said.

The men confronted two employees, demanded cash and fled the store on foot, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said.

The two made off with an undisclosed amount of money.

Witness Caleb Fisher said the scene was like something out of an action movie.

“We saw, like, the whole store being evacuated, like all the employees and customers are screaming and running out,” he said. “About 20-30 seconds later, just droves of all the sheriff’s (deputies) pulling up and circling the place.”

No injuries were reported in connection with the robbery, but Fisher said the experience made him question if he would shop at the Walmart in the future.

“(It) kind of makes you wonder,” he said. “We live real close to it, so kind of makes you wonder what’s all in this area.”

“We’ll probably stick to Whole Foods or Publix to get our water filled from now on,” he added.

Houser and Shabazz were booked into the Orange County Jail.

Cox Media Group