A midnight brawl at the parking lot of a Wal-Mart store in Arizona, led to the death of a suspect, and wounding of several others --- including members of the Cottonwood police.

The clash began when police responded to a 911 call at about 11:52 p.m. Saturday night, about a group of nine suspects seen assaulting a female Wal-Mart employee.  When the police arrived at the store parking lot, the suspects immediately fired shots that prompted police to fire back.

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One suspect was shot dead, another was wounded and the remaining seven were taken into custody. Eight members of the Cottonwood police were also hurt - with one sustaining gun shot wounds in the leg. 

The suspects have not been identified, but the Department of Public Safety said all of them were from the same family. 

Police say an investigation is underway to determine the possible motive of the suspects. 

The police shot in the leg was aged 31 and had been serving Cottonwood for more than a decade. He underwent surgery but he is expected to survive and fully recover.

Wal-Mart stores often become a venue of shootings and clashes between armed men and police. Some were mere accidents while others were suicide cases. 

In 2014, 16 people were killed, 42 injured in 92 cases of shooting in the U.S. 

This year, a man was shot dead at a New Mexico Wal-Mart store in January.  In the same month, an argument led to a shootout between police and the suspects at an Alabama Wal-Mart. 

TagsWalmart, Arizona, Walmart shooting