Police have responded in force to a reported shooting at a Walmart in Chesapeake, Virginia.
According to local news outlet WAVY, law enforcement officers at the scene just off Battlefield Blvd. have confirmed that there are multiple fatalities and injuries, and are warning people to stay away for the time being.
UPDATE: Chesapeake police say multiple fatalities and injuries have been reported after a shooting at the Walmart off Battlefield Blvd.
Police are clearing the building. https://t.co/7mhhibClML
— WAVY TV 10 (@WAVY_News) November 23, 2022
Dispatchers confirmed that a call came in at 10:12 p.m. local time, reporting that there had been a shooting at the store located at 1521 Sam’s Circle.
Leo Kosinski, speaking for the Chesapeake Police Department, told WAVY that people believe the alleged shooter is among the dead — but they have not independently confirmed that information yet. Details regarding the number of fatalities and extent of injuries have not yet been reported.
Video taken at the scene showed a large police presence outside the store while officers attempt to clear the building and further evaluate the situation.
#BREAKING Chesapeake police confirm they responded to the Sam’s Circle Walmart for an active shooter. Multiple people have died and multiple people are injured. @WAVY_News pic.twitter.com/wF6faU4swL
— Michelle Wolf (@MichelleWolfTV) November 23, 2022
A man claiming to have been inside the Walmart at the time of the shooting shared a video in which he claimed that one of the store’s managers was responsible.
Just watched a longer portion of this Facebook video where someone who appears to be a Walmart employee says a manager went into the break room and shot several employees (in Chesapeake, VA) https://t.co/tqBm9ueK9p
— Steve Lookner (@lookner) November 23, 2022
Democratic State Senator Louise Lucas immediately parlayed the tragic shooting into a call for more gun control, tweeting, “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.”
A later update from WAVY News indicated that police believed there were fewer than ten fatalities and confirmed that the shooter was, in fact, one of the deceased – but they did not give any additional information.
#UPDATE A Chesapeake police spokesperson tells us at this point he believes no more than 10 people have died. It’s unclear if the shooter was an employee. The shooter is now deceased. Officers are walking through the Walmart super center checking for victims. @WAVY_News pic.twitter.com/gZs4CDV0q8
— Michelle Wolf (@MichelleWolfTV) November 23, 2022
This is a developing story. Please refresh the page for updates.
