MELVILLE, N.Y. – Wal-Mart has suspended an employee after he and another employee allegedly sprayed each other with pepper spray, causing 16 shoppers to become ill, according to store officials and Nassau County police.

Store managers and security at the Wal-Mart in Valley Stream, Long Island, will conduct an investigation into what happened Saturday night, according to a company spokeswoman.

“We are sorry for the customers and we regret that this happened,” said Wal-Mart spokeswoman Amy Wyatt. “We are still looking into what happened. Once the investigation is over we will take appropriate action.”

The other employee involved was not suspended.

According to Nassau police, two employees found an open can of pepper spray and began to spray each other. The spray spread through store’s ventilation system, causing 16 shoppers to seek treatment from emergency medical technicians who were called to the scene.

Eight people were taken to area hospitals, where they were treated and released.

Police said there will be no charges against Wal-Mart.