Off-duty officer fatally shot a man after being assaulted in a California Costco, police say

The officer, who has not been identified, was shopping with his family in the store Friday evening and holding his young child when a man he did not know "assaulted" him, according to a news release from Corona Police Department Public Information Officer Tobias Kouroubacalis.

The release said the attack was unprovoked.

The officer fired his weapon, killing 32-year-old Kenneth French and injuring two of French's family members. The injured relatives were taken to local hospitals, where they are in critical condition, Corona police said.

The officer suffered minor injuries and has been released from the hospital. His child was not injured in the incident, the news release said.

"The Department has initiated an Administrative Investigation and is working with the Corona Police Department to learn more about the incident," Los Angeles police said in a statement.

Initially believed to be an active shooter

Officers arriving to the scene on Friday initially believed there was an active shooter, Lt. Jeff Edwards of the Corona police said. Panic broke out as people tried to flee the store, leaving some injured in the scuffle.

Many left their personal items -- purses, cellphones, and backpacks -- at the store in an effort to get out quickly. Corona Police are now trying to find their rightful owners.

Naveed Navi and Rochelle Flores were shopping for items for a barbecue when gunshots rang out, they told CNN affiliate KTLA.

They heard four shots and tried to escape through emergency doors, but they wouldn't open, the pair told the station.

"It's not very fun when you're scared and you're running for your life and you're trying to open a door that says 'emergency' and they don't open," Flores told the station. "Everybody was freaking out. People were falling over each other."

She described chaos as shoppers tried to flee through the front entrance. CNN could not immediately reach Costco officials.

"Everybody's running around," Flores said. "It's scary."

Tina Burnside and Hollie Silverman contributed to this report.

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