An employee at a Chesapeake, Virginia Walmart opened fire Tuesday night (Nov. 22), killing at least six people and injuring four before taking his own life, according to police.
During a press conference Wednesday morning (Nov. 23), Chesapeake Police Chief Mark Solesky confirmed that the gunman died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His identity has not been released because his relatives had not yet been notified of his death. Solesky said officials executed a search warrant at the suspect’s home.
“We are truly saddened at the tragedy that took place in our community last night,” Solesky said. “We are all praying for the family and coworkers of everyone who was affected by this senseless violence.”
Police also confirmed that the gunman was a Walmart manager who opened fire on fellow employees gathered in the break room of the Virginia retail corporation. A report to the police came in around 10:12 p.m. — less than an hour before Walmart was set to close. Police were on scene by 10:14 p.m. and the building was declared safe by 11:20 p.m. Solesky claimed he didn’t know how many shoppers were inside or whether the gunman was working at the time of the shooting. He also confirmed that four people remain currently in the hospital.
Walmart issued a statement on their Twitter account. “We are shocked at this tragic event at our Chesapeake, Virginia store,” the company wrote. “We’re praying for those impacted, the community and our associates. We’re working closely with law enforcement, and we are focused on supporting our associates.”
The tragic incident follows a list of recent mass shootings that have taken place in the United States, including one that happened last weekend. A 22-year-old man killed five people and wounded 17 at a Colorado Springs LGBTQ nightclub. According to court records, he is currently facing multiple murder and hate crime charges.