Six people killed employee who opened fire in Chesapeake, Virginia, store suspect also dead

An employee of walmart store in Chesapeake, Virginia, open fire on colleagues Tuesday evening killing six people and wounded four more at the point of sale before switching on gun on himself, city Police Chief Mark Soleski said Wednesday morning.

The officers were sent to active Threat situation at a Walmart supermarket at 10:12 p.m. local time, Chesapeake Police spokesman Leo Kosinski told reporters at the scene Tuesday evening. Soleski said that the officers on scene for two minutes, entered store two minutes later and within just about an hour they cleared store and all are located of victims.

The suspect was also found dead and the police weren’t looking anyone more in connection with shooting.

Soleski said the suspect employee was found dead of suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound. He said a gun was used in shooting. Suspect not identified, notification pending of his next of Relatives, according to the police chief.

FBI office in Norfolk, Virginia, confirmed that the agency is assisting the Chesapeake Police Department, which lead agency on investigation.

Four more victims are still being treated. on Wednesday morning in area hospitals, but nature and degree of their injuries are clearSoleski said.

Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, work scene of mass shooting at Walmart, November 23, 2022 in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Alex Brandon/AP


The shooting happened inside the store, Kosinski said on Tuesday evening, although at least one body was found outside. According to Walmart website, store was open to customers at the time of shooting.

Human who said he was a buyer, described the scene in mobile phone videohead of news at CBS national affairs and Justice Correspondent Jeff Peges reports.

“We heard a few shots inside… and everyone ran out”, – said Jerome Basham. – There was a man, down it’s still down out front.”

Another man said in video in which he was among the employees of Walmart inside store when the shooting started, according to Pegues.

“I literally walked out rest room, huh? And as soon like, probably about five minutes later, shots rang out,” said Kevin Harper.

Chesapeake Mayor Rick West issued a statement early Wednesday morning, saying he was “devastated by the senseless act of violence” and praise first defendants.

West told CBS News he’s thinking about how respond to mass shootings became part of of Work for city leaders across the country.

” first the feeling was nothing but fear, because here it is, I knew that we would have to face and what these poor families are going to be facing for years to come,” West said.

Police vehicle parked outside walmart store in Chesapeake, Virginia, early on November 23, 2022, after the mass shooting left Seven people dead including the suspect.

Nicole Sganga/CBS News


Chesapeake located in coastal Hampton Roads in the southern Virginia region that includes the city of Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

Kosinski said the Chesapeake Convention Center had created a “place of reunion”. city The Twitter account said:for instant family members or emergency contact of those who could be in in building.”

The incident was second large mass shooting in United States in just in past several days. Five people were killed and 17 others wounded when the suspect opened fire in LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado in early morning hours Sunday.

“Tired of reports of another mass shooting, this time at Walmart in Chesapeake, Democratic Senator Mark Warner of Virginia tweeted early Wednesday morning.

Virginia new Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin, also suspended in, speaking: “Our hearts are breaking with in community of Chesapeake this morning.” in tweet and adding that “heinous acts of no violence place in our communities.”

Walmart issued a statement saying the company is “shocked by this tragic event.” event”and” pray for those who suffered community and our associates.

The retail giant said it is “working closely with with law enforcement and we’re focused on supporting our allies.”

Virginia State Senator Louise Lucas, Democrat who represents the Chesapeake region that covers the Chesapeake, said in tweet about being “heartbroken that America latest mass shooting took place in walmart in my region”.

“I won’t rest until we find a solution to end this gun epidemic of violence in our country that has claimed so many lives,” she said.

“Unfortunately, our community suffering from another incident of nonsensical gun violence just how families get together for Thanksgiving,” said Rep. Bobby Scott. of Virginia.

According to data compiled by the Archive of Gun Violence, more over 600 mass executions in USA it year, with at least 36 as a result in deaths.

Criminologist at Northeastern University in Boston, Alan Fox who collected data on executions in United States for decades, reported the same figure that he said made 2022 record year for such attacks even before the incident at Walmart in Chesapeake.

“I studied mass murder for over 40 years old and I’m pretty sure there never was year where we had so many,” Fox said in an article published Monday by Northeast, in commemoration of shooting in Colorado.

Fox noted ‘unprecedented surge’ from the start of Only in October, during this time, according to him, there were 13 fatal mass shootings.

“It’s average of about two mass shootings a week,” Fox said.

Alex Sandby contributed reporting.

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