Police spokesperson gives update on Walmart shooting
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A Walmart employee has shot and killed six people in a mass shooting inside a store in Chesapeake, Virginia, before turning the gun on himself, according to authorities.
Police were called to the store at around 10.12pm on Tuesday night to find multiple people dead and injured on the scene.
Six victims were killed in the attack and another four remained in hospital with injuries as of Wednesday morning.
A statement from Walmart confirmed the identity of the alleged shooter as Andre Bing, the overnight team lead, who has been employed by the company since 2010.
Police executed a search warrant at the suspect’s home in the aftermath of the shooting and have determined that there is “no ongoing risk to the public”, said the police chief.
In a statement from police on Wednesday afternoon, five of the victims were named. A sixth is a minor and so his name was not released.
A motive for the shooting is unknown, but witnesses have said they believe it was planned and he specifically targeted coworkers.
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Chesapeake Police release names of victims
Chesapeake Police have released the names of the victims of Tuesday night’s mass shooting at Walmart:
We are saddened to announce the names of those we lost on Tuesday evening at the shooting at Walmart on Sam’s Circle but hope that with this information we can honor their lives in our community. The City of Chesapeake has always been known as the “City That Cares” and now, more than ever, we know our City will show up and care for those who need it most.
Please join us in praying for the family and friends of these community members who we have lost: Lorenzo Gamble, Brian Pendleton, Kellie Pyle, Randall Blevins, and Tyneka Johnson.
The sixth victim is a 16-year-old male resident of Chesapeake whose name and photo are being withheld at the time due to him being a minor.
Oliver O’Connell23 November 2022 22:17
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Mother details son’s harrowing survival account after he was shot twice
The mother of one of the Walmart workers wounded during Tuesday night’s shooting has explained how he survived.
“He just didn’t understand what was going on. Everybody thought [the manager] was in a mood or something,” Ms Shupe said. “Suddenly it changed. It transitioned from the look to actually seeing a gun.”
A bullet grazed her son’s ear and he began to flee, seeing people on the group that he had to jump over to save himself.
When Jalen made it to the front, she said, he was shot again.
“His exact words were, ‘I got shot… I actually got shot.’ And then when he made it to the front, his exact words was, ‘I just got shot again,’” Ms Shupe said. “So you know, you got shot in the beginning. And now as you’re trying to go get help, just shot again.”
Jalen was helped out by a coworker and they waited in her car until help came. He had been shot in his back and sternum and thought he was going to die. Ms Shupe says he is fighting on but struggling to process what he witnessed.
“There’s trauma,” she said. “He’s really dealing with that more, I guess you could say almost as much as the injuries: the trauma of people being injured and hurt that he might not ever see again.”
Oliver O’Connell23 November 2022 21:45
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Bing ‘just started spraying’ bullets in the Walmart break room
One Walmart employee who left the break room before Andre Bing began shooting was Kevin Harper, who recounted his experience in a Facebook Live video.
Employee Kevin Harper said a colleague entered the breakroom and started shooting.
“I just left out the breakroom … (the gunman) starts cappin’ people up in there,” Harper said in a Facebook Live video. The video is no longer on his Facebook page, but it has been re-shared on social media.
“He came in there and just started spraying,” Harper said. “I’m sorry for the victims.”
Oliver O’Connell23 November 2022 21:30
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Recap: Walmart mass shooting suspect who killed six and himself is named
Rachel Sharp reported on developments as they occurred on Wednesday.
Oliver O’Connell23 November 2022 21:20
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Walmart sets up resource centre for employees and families
Walmart has set up an associate resource centre for Walmart associates and their family members following Tuesday night’s tragedy in Chesapeake. The store is currently closed.
The centre is now open until 7pm on Wednesday at the Springhill Suites, 1446 Crossways Blvd. Starting tomorrow, and for the next two weeks, the associate resource centre will move to the Delta Hotel by Marriott at 725 Woodlake Drive and will be open from 7am to 7pm to support Walmart associates and their families with counseling, meals and a place to connect with each other.
If associates have additional questions, they should contact their supervisor. The family reunification center at the Chesapeake Conference Centre is now closed and family members in need should report to the Walmart associate resource centre.
Oliver O’Connell23 November 2022 20:59
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Report that Bing had hit list of colleagues
Brett Hall of WAVY reported earlier today that first responders found a lit near the shooter’s body believed to have been that of employees he wanted to target.
Oliver O’Connell23 November 2022 20:40
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Police confirm shooter identified as Andre Bing, 31
(City of Chesapeake)
Oliver O’Connell23 November 2022 20:20
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Chesapeake Police release timeline of incident
The Chesapeake Police Department has released the following timeline of what transpired at the city’s Walmart:
On 22 November 2022, at around 10.12pm, Chesapeake Police responded to the Walmart located at 1521 Sam’s Circle in reference to an active shooter inside the store. The first
officer arrived on the scene within two minutes, at around 10.14pm and officers entered the store at around 10.16pm.
Once inside the store, officers began locating and evacuating occupants of the store. Officers found several injured and deceased individuals during their search. At least six injured people were transported to local hospitals for further treatment. There was a total of seven fatalities. Three individuals, including the shooter, were located deceased in the break
room of the store. One victim was found deceased near the front of the store. Three other victims were transported to local hospitals for further treatment but succumbed to their injuries.
The shooter has been identified as 31-year-old Andre Bing of Chesapeake. Mr Bing was dead upon police arrival on the scene. At this time it is believed he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Mr Bing has been identified as an employee of Walmart. He was armed with one handgun and several magazines on his person. Mr Bing was dressed in civilian clothing and wore no type of armour or a ballistic vest.
At the time of the shooting, at least 50 people are believed to have been inside the store. Police are still trying to account for anyone who may have been at the store and witnessed the incident, but fled prior to police arrival.
The Chesapeake SWAT team executed a search warrant at the suspect’s residence and with the help of Virginia State Police cleared the house. Investigators are actively working to learn more about the suspect’s background and what may have motivated the shooting.
The Walmart store is expected to be closed for several days while detectives continue to collect evidence and process the crime scene.
Chesapeake Detectives are actively communicating with the victims’ family members and will release the names of the victims once contact has been made with all family members. It is of the utmost importance that we put their families first and approach the release of their information with sensitivity.
Oliver O’Connell23 November 2022 20:13
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Tributes left for victims
Shyleana Sausedo-Day, from Portsmouth, Virginia, places flowers near the scene of the Walmart mass shooting on 23 November 2022
(AP)
Oliver O’Connell23 November 2022 20:06
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Biden offers support
President Joe Biden spoke with Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin this afternoon to offer his support and any federal assistance, per the White House press office.
Oliver O’Connell23 November 2022 19:52