The amount of money taken was not disclosed as of News-Herald presstime.

White said the pair, who appear on video to be a man and woman, came on the property together, exited a vehicle in separate locations of the parking lot and were in the area two hours prior to the shots being fired. The two left in the same vehicle.

The woman had a face covering, while the man did not.

White said investigators are working to identify the couple and have sent information to local and regional law enforcement agencies, including the FBI. He said he believes the two have either done this before or will again because they succeeded.

“We are very confident that we will have a successful prosecution of both of these individuals in the near future,” White said.

Shell casings from eight rounds, most of which were discharged into the ceiling, were found, he said.

“The weapon was never pointed in a direction where it would have struck anybody,” White said. “The weapon was shot up into the ceiling. However, very reckless, very dangerous to put that in play for a robbery of a cash register.”

Dane Ogden, an insurance agent with State Farm in Lenoir City, was in the store with his wife when the shots were fired.

He said they were in the back corner of the store looking at popcorn when he heard a sound like a balloon popping. After several more “pops,” Ogden said he realized the sound was gunfire and a customer yelled something about a shooter or shots.