[News] 'Senseless': Suspect in shooting that killed 6 at Chesapeake, Virginia, Walmart was a store manager

[Dark-ImmoRtal]

CHESAPEAKE, Virginia – Flags across Virginia were flying at half staff Wednesday, hours after a store manager opened fire at a Walmart in Chesapeake, killing six people as a wave of deadly gun violence continued to sweep the nation. 

The first 911 call came in at 10:12 p.m. Tuesday, and the first officers arrived two minutes later, Chesapeake Police Chief Mark Solesky said Wednesday. Police spokesman Leo Kosinski said several people were wounded or hiding in the store and that rescue and tactical teams swept through providing "life-saving measures." 

The assailant was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound and a handgun was recovered at the scene, Solesky said. The shooter's home was being searched but his identity was not released pending notification of family, the chief said.

"You hope a day like this never comes, but we train for it, we practice, we talk about it, we learn lessons," City Manager Chris Price said at the briefing. "You hope that those lessons will never have to be put to use." 

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'He literally just started shooting'
Employee Briana Tyler told ABC’s “Good Morning America” that workers had gathered in the store’s break room at the start of a shift when the man, a manager, walked in and without saying a word started firing.

 

"He literally just started shooting throughout the entire break room," she said. "And I watched multiple people just drop down to the floor, whether they were trying to duck for cover or they were hit. ... He looked directly at me but luckily he missed my head by like an inch or two."

Authorities said four people were hospitalized, their conditions weren’t immediately available. 

 

Biden, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin offer support and sympathies
President Joe Biden issue a statement expressing gratitude to the first responders and pledging support and assistance. He referenced a gun reform law passed earlier this year and urged "greater action" to curb gun violence.

"Because of yet another horrific and senseless act of violence, there are now even more tables across the country that will have empty seats this Thanksgiving," the statement said. "There are now more families who know the worst kind of loss and pain imaginable."

 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said it was assisting with the investigation. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who ordered flags flown at half staff through Sunday, said he was making state resources available.

"Our hearts break with the community of Chesapeake this morning," he said. "Heinous acts of violence have no place in our communities."

Mayor Rick W. West, in a statement posted on Twitter, also lauded the efforts of first responders.

“I am devastated by the senseless act of violence that took place late last night in our city,” West tweeted. “Chesapeake is a tightknit community and we are all shaken by this news.”

Anxiety and rumors spread in the hours after the attack. At 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, the city posted a notice on Twitter warning that "rumors of an active shooter at Target in Chesapeake are UNTRUE. Please help us control rumors by only sharing information from this account."

Mary Glisson, 73, a housewife from nearby Great Bridge, was shopping in the area. Glisson, who said she sometimes stops at Walmart, heard about the shooting on the news.

 

link: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/11/22/chesapeake-virginia-walmart-shooting-authorities/10761233002/