Dakota Norwood, 21, died after being shot inside the northwest Indiana store, where a suspect was taken into custody.
HAMMOND, Ind. — Authorities have identified a 21-year-old Chicago woman as the Walmart employee killed in a shooting inside a Hammond store Monday morning as police continue investigating the encounter that led to her death.
Dakota Norwood died after she was shot multiple times at the Walmart at 1100 Fifth Ave., according to the Lake County Coroner’s Office and Hammond police. A deputy coroner certified her death at 10:27 a.m. Monday. A forensic autopsy conducted Tuesday determined the preliminary cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death was homicide.
Hammond police said officers were called to the store at about 9:09 a.m. Monday after an off-duty Hammond officer working security reported that a shooting had occurred and a suspect was in custody. Investigators said a male suspect had been speaking with a female employee before the encounter escalated and became physical.
Police said the suspect then retrieved a firearm and shot the employee multiple times. Norwood died from her injuries. Authorities have not released the suspect’s name or announced what criminal charges, if any, have been filed.
Early police reports described the victim as a woman in her mid-20s, but the coroner’s investigation later established that Norwood was 21. The Lake County Coroner’s Office said it was notified of the shooting at about 9:35 a.m. and sent a medicolegal death investigation team to the store.
Police said the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident and investigators did not believe there was an ongoing threat to shoppers, employees or the surrounding community. No other injuries were reported. The shooting prompted a large emergency response and temporarily closed the Walmart while investigators worked inside the building.
Walmart said after the shooting that it was heartbroken by what happened and was cooperating with authorities. The company also said it was providing support for employees affected by the violence. Local reports said employees and customers were still arriving at the store after the shooting and encountered police activity and the closure.
Norwood’s identification marks the latest confirmed development in an investigation that began with limited information about the victim and the circumstances surrounding the encounter. Police initially said the suspect and Norwood had been talking before the confrontation, but authorities have not publicly detailed their relationship or said what caused the dispute.
The Hammond Police Department continues to investigate the shooting. Authorities had not publicly identified the suspect or announced charges as of Tuesday, and police have said additional information will be released as the investigation develops.
Author note: Last updated November 3, 2026.