Police said no one was injured after a manager confronted the armed man and a customer detained him until officers arrived.
UVALDE, TX — A customer detained an armed man after a handgun fired during a struggle with a manager inside a Uvalde H-E-B, ending a confrontation that police said began with a dispute between a father and his son.
Uvalde police responded about 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, to the grocery store at 201 E. Main St. Authorities said one shot was fired during the struggle but no one was struck or otherwise reported injured. The man was taken into custody, and officers recovered the handgun. Police said the case remained under investigation and possible criminal charges had not yet been announced.
According to police, the confrontation grew out of an earlier disagreement between a father and son who worked as contractors at the store. The father had been asked to leave after the dispute but later returned carrying a handgun, police said. Authorities said he intended to confront his son, who was working in the deli area.
A store manager noticed the father enter and followed him toward the area where the two men worked, according to police. When the man pulled out the handgun, the manager physically intervened. A struggle followed, and the firearm discharged once. Police said the bullet did not hit anyone.
As the armed man tried to leave the store, a customer who had witnessed the encounter intervened and detained him until officers arrived, police said. Authorities have not publicly identified the customer, the manager, the father or the son.
Uvalde Police Chief Homer E. Delgado credited the manager and the customer with helping keep the confrontation from becoming more violent. “The courage and quick actions of the H-E-B manager and a customer who stepped forward during a dangerous situation undoubtedly helped prevent further violence,” Delgado said in a statement reported by KSAT.
H-E-B confirmed that no injuries were reported. The store temporarily closed after the incident while authorities investigated and later resumed normal operations. Police said there was no continuing threat to the public.
The incident prompted an evacuation as authorities secured the store and checked the building. Reports from the scene said employees gathered in a management area while officers responded. Investigators have not publicly released additional details about where the discharged bullet struck or whether surveillance video will be part of the case.
Authorities had not announced specific charges against the man as of Wednesday. Uvalde police said the investigation was continuing, leaving the identities of those involved and the final charging decision undisclosed.
Author note: Last updated October 21, 2026.