The store manager who went on a shooting rampage and killed six people in a Virginia Walmart has been identified as Andre Bing, 31, a store manager who has worked for Walmart since 2010.
At a press conference, Chesapeake police chief Mark Solesky said, “We believe it was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.” He asserted that the attacker used a pistol to fire and that the motive for the crime was yet unknown. Seven people were killed in the store, including the shooter.
One gun and many magazines of ammo were found
One gun and many magazines of ammo were found on him by the police. An employee claimed to the media that Bing called a meeting of the staff in the break room to go through the morning schedule. Bing then turned around and began firing at random, not paying any special attention to anyone.
Bing was one of three persons who were discovered dead in the break room, according to the police, who also said that one other person was discovered dead next to the entrance.
It took two hours after the shooting for the precise number of persons killed or injured to become known. During the hectic holiday week, customers had been purchasing goods for Thanksgiving, and the store was at capacity with about 50 shoppers.
According to the authorities, one of the victims was a 16-year-old lad. The other victims were named as Tyneka Johnson, 22, of neighboring Portsmouth, Brian Pendleton, 38, Kellie Pyle, 52, Lorenzo Gamble, 43, and Randy Blevins, 70, all of Chesapeake.
The police reported that they discovered several dead inside the Walmart within 45 minutes of their arrival, and one individual was discovered dead outside the entrance.
At 10:12 p.m., a call regarding the incident was received. At Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, five victims were receiving care.
Tuesday night, state senator for Virginia Louise Lucas released the following statement: “I am absolutely heartbroken that America’s latest mass shooting took place in a Walmart in my district in Chesapeake, Virginia tonight. I will not rest until we find the solutions to end this gun violence epidemic in our country that has taken so many lives.”
Yet another attack
President Joe Biden called the shooting “yet another horrific and senseless act of violence,” noting a shooting this month that killed three University of Virginia students. The United States averages two mass shootings per day, when defined as an incident killing or injuring four or more people, according to GunViolenceArchive.org.
The most recent incidence of this kind happened only a few days after a gunman in Colorado opened fire at a gay club, killing five people and injuring over 17. In Uvalde, Texas, a school shooting earlier this year resulted in 21 dead. In El Paso, Texas, a Walmart shooting took place in 2019 and left 22 people dead. According to the authorities, the shooter specifically targeted Mexicans.