STRONGSVILLE, OH — A 22-year-old Fort Worth truck driver was ordered held on $5 million bond Monday after being charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a Costco employee who tried to prevent him from entering the store while armed.
Christian Bryant faces an unclassified felony murder charge in the death of Randolph Corrigan, 61, who was shot multiple times outside the Strongsville Costco on Saturday evening. The confrontation began when Corrigan, a store employee, approached Bryant about a high-capacity drum magazine protruding from his pocket as he walked toward the store entrance. Police say the incident escalated when Bryant drew a semi-automatic handgun and fired 13 rounds, killing Corrigan despite attempts by good Samaritans to save his life.
The shooting unfolded around 5:43 p.m. Saturday at the Costco located at 16690 Royalton Road. According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Cleveland television stations, Bryant was carrying a drum magazine in his pocket when Corrigan “attempted to prevent him from entering the store with a firearm.” Witnesses reported seeing Bryant pull out a black semi-automatic handgun during the confrontation. Police say Corrigan responded by pulling out a pocket knife. “Randy told the guy to drop the gun and the guy shot him,” one 911 caller told dispatchers. “Gunshots fired. One of my employees got hit.” Another caller reported: “This guy just gunned someone down. Several shots. The person is laying on the ground… There was one shooter who shot him point blank.”
Officers arriving at the scene found Corrigan suffering from seven to eight gunshot wounds to his chest, abdomen and right arm. Several good Samaritans were already providing first aid, with one person wearing work gloves and applying pressure to Corrigan’s chest wounds. Police immediately began additional life-saving measures, applying chest seals and a tourniquet before paramedics transported him to MetroHealth Medical Center. Corrigan was pronounced dead at 6:45 p.m. Investigators recovered 13 fired .40 caliber shell casings at the scene, along with Bryant’s .40 Springfield XD-40 handgun equipped with a drum magazine containing 37 rounds and one round in the chamber. Police say Bryant “repeatedly uttered ‘a white man approached me with a knife for no reason’ and ‘I defended myself'” while being taken into custody.
Bryant appeared via video link Monday morning in Berea Municipal Court, where Judge Sean Kilbane set bond at $5 million as requested by prosecutors. Strongsville Police Detective Zaki Hazou told the court that Bryant is a truck driver who was traveling through Ohio, making him a flight risk. The detective said Bryant has a prior criminal record but is not currently on probation or parole. During the brief hearing, Bryant waived his right to a preliminary hearing, and the case was bound over to the Cuyahoga County grand jury. When Bryant asked to address the court before bond was set, Judge Kilbane advised him to speak with his attorney first. As the hearing concluded, however, Bryant spoke up again: “This man approached me with a knife,” he declared before his defense attorney interrupted him. Bryant was then seen throwing paperwork down and walking away as the hearing officially ended.
Court documents reveal that witnesses described Bryant firing one initial shot at Corrigan, who then fell to the ground. After “a split-second pause,” Bryant allegedly “fired many more, one after another, with no pause.” The shooting occurred outside the store entrance, where News 5 Cleveland reporters observed multiple shell casings and bullet holes Saturday evening. The store reopened Sunday, though shoppers reported feeling “on high alert” following the incident. “Everyone seems like they’re on high alert with everything going on,” shopper Sam Sottosanti told reporters. “I had friends who were here [Saturday] night when it happened, and it was quite upsetting,” said Dawn Ballachino. Many customers said they called the store before visiting to confirm it was safe to shop.
Corrigan lived with his mother in a Cleveland neighborhood on the city’s west side and served as her sole caregiver, according to family representatives. A GoFundMe page established to help cover funeral expenses describes him as a dedicated Costco employee. Family members attended Bryant’s court hearing Monday and asked through a victim’s advocate for “justice to be served.” They also urged any witnesses who have not yet spoken with police to come forward. Strongsville police continue investigating the shooting and have asked anyone present during the incident who did not speak with officers to email detective.bureau@strongsville.org. The case now awaits presentation to a grand jury, where prosecutors may seek additional charges.
