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.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Nov 23, 2022, 7:25 PM EST

Victims of shooting identified

Five of the victims of the shooting have been publicly identified by Chesapeake officials as Lorenzo Gamble, Brian Pendleton, Kellie Pyle, Randall Blevins and Tyneka Johnson.

The name of the sixth victim -- a 16-year-old boy -- has not been released due to his age.

Nov 23, 2022, 7:14 PM EST

'He had a real big heart': Mother of victim Brian Pendleton

Brian Pendleton, one of the six people killed in the shooting, would have turned 39 next week, his mother said in an emotional phone interview Wednesday.

"He had a real big heart," his mother, Michelle Johnson, said. "Anybody that wanted to laugh, or just want company, he'd buy you lunch. He'd buy you anything in a minute."

Pendleton worked at the Walmart for nearly 11 years as a custodian and "loved his job," she said.

"He was just a hard worker and a good kid," she said.

Brian Pendleton, one of the victims at the shooting at Walmart in Chesapeake. Va., is pictured in an undated photo.
City of Chesapeake

When a family friend called and told her there had been a shooting at his Walmart, Johnson's husband went to where families had been told to convene for reunification. He was told Brian had been transferred to Norfolk General Hospital, so Johnson and her husband drove there, she said.

"We waited, and then the police came out with a nurse and they took us to a side room and that's when they told us that he didn't make it," Johnson said, choking up.

"That's when they said that he didn't make it," Johnson said, sobbing. "I just wondered, was he afraid at that time? I know my son. I didn't want him to be afraid, and I didn't want him to hurt."

Pendleton had a condition called congenital hydrocephalus. Johnson has it too, she said, but they had both been "blessed" not to have a severe case.

"We're fighters, and we trust the Lord," she said.

This was Pendleton's favorite time of year, with Thanksgiving and his birthday on Dec. 2, said Johnson.

"I don't understand why, what happened, happened," she said.

"I will never go near that Walmart again," she added.

-ABC News' Sasha Pezenik

Nov 23, 2022, 6:21 PM EST

'We will get through this together': Chesapeake mayor

Chesapeake Mayor Rick West offered words of support in a brief video statement Wednesday evening.

"I know this community, and I know it well, and I know that we will come together and lend a helping hand to the victims' families," West said. "We'll share this burden together and we'll be stronger for it."

The mayor promised to share more information on the incident.

"Until then, please know that we will get through this, and we will get through this together, and we will never forget those that we have lost," he said.

“We will get through this together,” said Chesapeake Mayor Rick West, offering words of support in a brief video statement Wednesday evening.
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Chesapeake mayor offers words of support

“We will get through this together,” said Chesapeake Mayor Rick West, offering words of support in a brief video statement Wednesday evening.
City of Chesapeake

Nov 23, 2022, 3:19 PM EST

50 people in Walmart at the time, motive remains unknown

At least 50 people were believed to be in a Chesapeake, Virginia, Walmart when a gunman opened fire Tuesday night, Chesapeake police said.

Authorities are still investigating a motive and are looking into the background of the suspect, 31-year-old Andre Bing, according to police. A search warrant has been executed at Bing’s house, police said.

A handout photo of Walmart mass shooting suspect Andre Bing
Chesapeake Police Dept. Handout

Bing, who died at the store of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, wasn’t wearing any type of armor or a ballistic vest, authorities said.

Police said they’re "still trying to account for anyone who may have been at the store and witnessed the incident, but fled prior to police arrival." Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI.

The Walmart is expected to be closed for several days, police added.