(Fwrd Axis) — Multiple people were killed in a shooting Tuesday night at a Walmart in Chesapeake, Virginia, police said.
Authorities said they believe the shooter is dead but the number of people deceased or injured would not be known until sometime Wednesday.
“We believe it’s a single shooter, and that single shooter is deceased at this time,” police spokesman Officer Leo Kosinski told reporters at the scene.
Kosinski told reporters he didn’t know how the shooter died but said he does not believe the gunman was shot by police.
A spokesperson for Sentara Norfolk General Hospital said the healthcare organization treated five victims from the scene but declined to give an update on their conditions.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) said he would be monitoring updates on the situation.
“Sickened by reports of yet another mass shooting, this time at a Walmart in Chesapeake. I’ll be monitoring developments closely,” he wrote in a tweet.
Sickened by reports of yet another mass shooting, this time at a Walmart in Chesapeake. I’ll be monitoring developments closely.
In the meantime, I urge all those in the community to listen to guidance from local law enforcement and stay away from the scene.
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) November 23, 2022
The shooting comes just days after a gunman killed six and injured 18 people at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado and just two days before Thanksgiving.
“It’s sad. We’re a couple days before the Thanksgiving holiday,” Kosinski said, adding, “It’s just a bad time all around, just for everybody involved — especially the victims. This is horrible.”
Walmart released a statement and said that its thoughts were with everyone affected, and that it was fully cooperating with law enforcement.
“We are shocked at this tragic event at our Chesapeake, Virginia store,” a company spokesperson said. “We’re praying for those impacted, the community and our associates.”