VALDOSTA — Valdosta police arrested three people following a fight that allegedly started when one person pointed a rifle at another.

Around 4:45 p.m. Thursday, callers to E911 warned about a fight involving a firearm at the Walmart on Norman Drive, according to a Valdosta Police Department statement.

Officers found an 18-year-old man with a rifle fighting with another man. While officers tried to separate them and get the rifle, two other men, ages 17 and 30, started to fight, and police had to separate them as well, the statement said.

Investigation showed that as the victim left the store with his family, the man with the gun — who knew the victim — saw him walking to his vehicle, spat on the victim and pointed the rifle at him; the victim tried to grab the rifle, resulting in a fight, police said.

As officers were taking statements, a relative of the suspect tried to fight the victim, and was in turn shoved by a relative of the victim, triggering another fight in front of officers, the statement said.

The man with the gun was charged with felony aggravated assault, while the 17-year-old and the 30-year-old were charged with misdemeanor affray, the police statement said.

“We had numerous innocent people and children shopping at a busy store in the middle of the day when this 18-year-old decided to confront a person he knows with a rifle. His actions were reckless and will not be tolerated. Our officers did an outstanding job quickly controlling this incident. We are extremely lucky that no one was injured during this incident,” said Police Chief Leslie Manahan.

Anyone with information about this case should contact the Valdosta Police Department Bureau of Investigative Services at 229-293-3145, the crime tip line at 229-293-3091, or file a tip online at www.valdostacity.com/police-department.