Virginia Walmart mass shooting: Store to close for the 'foreseeable future'

Employees will continue to be paid, the company said.

A Virginia community is reeling after a man armed with a handgun shot and killed six people and injured several others in a mass shooting at a Walmart in Chesapeake.

Survivors said the gunman walked into a break room and opened fire on Nov. 22.

The suspect, a current employee, died at the scene from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.

Two victims remain in the hospital and two have been released, Walmart said Tuesday.


Employee complained about suspect's behavior months before shooting: Lawsuit

In a lawsuit filed on Tuesday, a Walmart employee accused the company of being negligent by continuing to employ suspected shooter Andre Bing despite a written complaint the employee submitted about Bing's alleged disturbing behavior more than two months before the shooting.

Donya Prioleau, an employee who had worked at Walmart for more than a year and was in the room during the shooting, alleged Walmart knew or should have known about Bing's "violent propensities" and accused the company of failing to "enact any preventative measures to keep Walmart customers and employees safe," according to the suit.

Prioleau is seeking $50 million in damages.

Walmart said that it's reviewing the complaint and "will be responding as appropriate with the court."

-ABC News' Nadine El-Bawab and Luke Barr


Walmart to close store for the 'foreseeable future'

Walmart has announced plans to close the Chesapeake store for the "foreseeable future."

"All associates will continue being paid regardless of planned schedules," CEO John Furner wrote in an email to staff on Tuesday.

The company is supporting the victims' families with funeral, travel and other expenses, and the Walmart Foundation intends to contribute $1 million to the United Way of South Hampton Roads' Hope & Healing Fund, "which will support those impacted by the shooting and the broader Chesapeake community," Furner added.

-ABC News' Beatrice Peterson


Crime scene investigation complete

The FBI and Chesapeake Police Department's forensic unit have completed their crime scene investigation at the Walmart store, the city said Saturday.

"The store will now be handed back to Walmart who will determine what comes next for this location," the city said in an update on Twitter.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, the city said.

Walmart said in a statement that it plans to "work very closely with our associates and rely on their input to determine the best time to reopen the store."



Emergency declaration following shooting

The Chesapeake City Council will meet on Monday at 5 p.m. for a special meeting where leaders are expected to confirm the emergency declaration to "free up funding to support recovery following the Walmart shooting," the city tweeted on Friday.

The declaration states: "as a result of this tragedy, impacted citizens face the need for continued emergency resources and necessitating the proclamation of a local emergency to alleviate this condition."

The state of emergency, if agreed upon, will continue through Dec. 5, 2022.

After the council meeting, city officials will gather with the mayor for a public citywide candlelight vigil with Chesapeake Mayor Rick West.

-ABC News' Beatrice Peterson


2 victims remain hospitalized in critical condition

Two of the injured victims from Tuesday night's mass shooting at a Chesapeake Walmart remain hospitalized in critical condition, officials said.

Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk, just north of Chesapeake, is continuing "to treat two patients who remain in critical condition," a spokesperson told ABC News on Thursday.

-ABC News' Beatrice Peterson