According to the Fort Oglethorpe Police Department, officer Richard Williams saw two suspicious people enter the store, go to the cash office and then leave.
Williams followed one of the men from the store and asked him to stop, but George Curtis Hughes, 44, of Cleveland Tenn., pulled a nine millimeter handgun and fired 14 shots at Williams, police said.
The officer returned fire and shot Hughes several times. During the exchange of gunfire Hughes also shot a Wal-Mart employee, police said.
Williams was hit in the boot and shirt sleeve, but not injured.
Authorities say the second suspect, Clyde Junior Perchelli, 21, of Decatur, Tenn., was taken into custody without incident. Officers said Perchelli admitted that he and Hughes did intend to rob the store.
According to police reports, the injured employee is in stable condition at Erlanger Medical Center. Hughes was airlifted to Erlanger but his condition is not known as of 8:30 a.m.
Ringgold resident Reality Williams said she was in the store parking lot when the incident took place.
You could hear gunshots and screams and a ton of people started running out of the Wal-Mart," she said.
Eyewitness Jeannie Dodd said Hughes began shooting at an SUV in the parking lot and then started firing into the store as he entered.
Both supsects are charged with robbery and weapons violations. Hughes is also charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and aggravated battery
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