On November 22, 2022, Andre Marcus Bing killed six co-workers and injured four others before killing himself, in retaliation for perceived workplace harassment at the Walmart Supercenter where he worked as a night-supervisor in Chesapeake, Virginia, United States.[3][4][1][5] Bing's suicide note cited concern he was being "led by Satan" and asking forgiveness – while also mentioning cancer treatments and loneliness.[6][7]
| 2022 Chesapeake shooting | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | 1521 Sam's Circle, Chesapeake, Virginia, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 36°46′22″N 76°14′56″W / 36.77278°N 76.24889°W |
| Date | November 22, 2022 c. 10:12 – 10:16 p.m. (EST（UTC−05:00）) |
| Target | Coworkers |
Attack type | Mass shooting, murder-suicide, workplace violence, mass murder |
| Weapon | Taurus 9mm handgun |
| Deaths | 7 (including the perpetrator) |
| Injured | 4 |
| Perpetrator | Andre Marcus Bing[1][2] |
| Motive | Revenge-driven attack against co-worker harassment |
Shooting
editBing purchased the 9 mm handgun on the morning of the shooting, and practiced with shooting targets later found in his vehicle.[8][9][10][6]
Police responded to reports of a shooting in the store at 10:12 pm.[11] Bing shot a specific co-worker and then went to the breakroom to join an in-progress routine meeting about overnight responsibilities, but Bing interrupted and shot several others without speaking although he may have been laughing,[12][13] and then fired at least ten shots walking the aisles.[10] When he saw a co-worker hired five days earlier, he told her to run home and didn't target her.[14]
Bing was targeting specific co-workers, and would continue shooting their prone bodies to ensure they were dead.[6] He was carrying a paper list he'd made of names of employees he was targeting, and a similar list was found in his home.[15] Six Walmart employees were killed: Randy Blevins, 70; Fernando Chavez-Barron, 16; Tyneka Johnson, 22; Lorenzo Gamble, 43; Brian Pendleton, 38; and Kellie Pyle, 52.[16][17][18][19]
It took first responders 35-40 minutes to search the building. Officers discovered multiple victims in the building,[20] including one near the entrance.[3] The gunman was among the deceased, due to an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.[21][11] The scene was declared safe by law enforcement about an hour after the first reports at 11:20 p.m.[9]
Perpetrator
editThe gunman was night-shift manager Andre Marcus Bing (May 1, 1991 – November 22, 2022).[1][2] He was a resident of Chesapeake who previously lived in Suffolk, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach as well as Queens, New York, and San Angelo, Texas. Bing started working with Walmart at the Chesapeake location twelve years earlier.[22] Bing had no criminal record.[10]
Bing's motive was characterized as revenge for perceived bullying by co-workers or a result of his failed romantic pursuits.[23] He wrote a short suicide note in which he explained how he had problems with women.[24] He wrote in his death note: "My true intent was never to murder anyone, believe it or not, I was actually one of the most loving people in the world if you got to know me. I just wanted a wife that was equally yoked as I and obsessed over the thought; however, I didn't deserve a wife."[23] An employee at the store alleged that he was planning on killing other Walmart managers.[25] Walmart employees that had worked with Bing described him as difficult and known to be hostile to others.[6]
Aftermath
editA joint investigation between the Chesapeake Police Department, Virginia State Police and ATF was formed, including an immediate search of Bing's home.[9][11]
Governor Glenn Youngkin said "our hearts break for the community of Chesapeake...Heinous acts of violence have no place in our communities.". Mayor Rick West also issued a statement the next morning offering his prayers to the families and thanks to the quick actions of first responders.[26] Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) said he was sickened by the shooting.[4] Virginia state senator Louise Lucas of Virginia's 18th Senate district, which includes Chesapeake, said she was "heartbroken that America's latest mass shooting took place in a Walmart in my district".[20] President Joe Biden shared his condolences and called for gun reform in the U.S.[27]
Survivors filed two $50 million lawsuits against the company via Morgan & Morgan law firm, alleging Walmart neglected safety in light of complaints of Bing's behavior.[28][29] On February 7, 2024, one of those lawsuits was dismissed.[30] The store was closed until Walmart reopened it five months later on April 19, 2023, with significant changes to its design.[31] There is also a memorial space to honor to victims and provide comfort for the survivors. [32]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c Burchett, Caitlyn; Munro, Ian; Stone, Gavin (November 23, 2022). "Virginia Walmart shooting updates: Sources identify gunman". The Virginian-Pilot. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ a b City of Chesapeake [@AboutChesapeake] (November 23, 2022). "We are still communicating with the victims' families and will release their information as soon as possible. We can confirm that the shooter was 31-year-old Andre Bing of Chesapeake. He was armed with one handgun and had multiple magazines on his person" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Reese, Brian; Hall, Brett; Dowding, Jon; Wolf, Michelle; Mayfield, Adrienne (November 22, 2022). "Chesapeake Walmart shooting: Multiple fatalities, injuries". WAVY-TV. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ a b Medina, Edurado; Ives, Mike (November 22, 2022). "Multiple People Are Fatally Shot at a Walmart in Virginia". The New York Times. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ Burchett, Caitlyn; Munro, Ian (November 22, 2022). "Multiple fatalities, injuries reported after shooting in a Chesapeake Walmart". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Finley, Ben; Barakat, Matthew (November 25, 2022). "Walmart shooter left 'death note,' bought gun day of killing". Associated Press. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
- ^ Goldsberry, Jenny (November 25, 2022). "Walmart shooting suspect wrote 'death note' before killing spree". Washington Examiner. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ "Search warrants reveal notes, ammo found at Chesapeake Walmart shooter's home". March 24, 2023.
- ^ a b c Calia, Mike; Repko, Melissa (November 23, 2022). "Walmart employee killed 6 people at Virginia store before taking his own life, police say". CNBC. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
The gunman — identified as Andre Bing, 31, of Chesapeake — was a disgruntled employee, a senior law enforcement official told NBC News. He was armed with a pistol and had multiple ammunition magazines on him, officials said.
- ^ a b c Elamroussi, Aya; McLaughlin, Eliott C. (November 25, 2022). "Authorities disclose note found on Walmart shooter's phone". CNN. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
The Chesapeake shooting erupted suddenly, with witnesses saying they were in shock and disbelief when they saw the gunman – a 31-year-old overnight team lead who'd worked at the store since 2010 – pointing a handgun at them. He was armed with multiple magazines, police said.
- ^ a b c Boyette, Chris (November 22, 2022). "Multiple fatalities and injuries reported in shooting at a Virginia Walmart". CNN. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ Reese, Brian; Hall, Brett; Wolf, Michelle; Mayfield, Adrienne; Loper, Craig; Ayo, Julius (November 23, 2022). "6 killed, 4 remain hospitalized after a mass shooting at Chesapeake Walmart, CPD confirms". WAVY.com. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ Finley, Ben (November 24, 2022). "Walmart's overnight staff gathered in a break room to go over the morning plan. Then a team leader pulled out a gun and opened fire". Fortune. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ Finley, Ben (November 24, 2022). "Witness: Walmart shooter seemed to target certain people". AP News. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ^ "Andre Bing: Chesapeake Walmart shooter was 'hunting for his targets' and ensured they were dead". GadgetAny. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ Maxouris, Christina; de Vogue, Ariane; Miller, John; Yan, Holly; Devine, Curt (November 23, 2022). "6 victims shot and killed in a Virginia Walmart include a 16-year-old boy, authorities say". CNN. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ^ "These are the victims of the deadly Chesapeake mass shooting". 13newsnow.com. November 23, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ^ "16-year-old killed in Chesapeake Walmart mass shooting identified by police". WJLA. November 25, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ Greene, Jay (November 23, 2022). "Chesapeake Walmart shooting victims range in age from 16 to 70". News 3 WTKR Norfolk. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ^ a b Brandon, Alex; Finley, Ben (November 22, 2022). "'Bodies drop' as Walmart manager kills 6 in Virginia attack". Associated Press. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ "Gunman goes on deadly shooting rampage at US Walmart". France 24. November 23, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ Paul, Pritha (November 23, 2022). "Walmart employee who shot around 10 people had a 12-year career with Walmart". Opoyi. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ a b Dredd, Peter (November 26, 2022). "Walmart Shooter Is A Black Incel Who Felt Rejected By Women – Manifesto". Dreddsworld. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- ^ "Read The Manifesto Of The Walmart Shooter … He's A BLACK INCEL Who Felt 'Rejected' By Women!". Media Take Out. November 26, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- ^ Cohen, Rebecca (November 24, 2022). "A Chesapeake Walmart employee said the gunman told her to 'go home' after killing workers in the store". Business Insider. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ Ayo, Julius (November 23, 2022). "State, local officials express heartbreak following the deadly mass shooting at Chesapeake Walmart". WAVY-TV.
- ^ "Statement from President Biden on the Shooting in Chesapeake, VA". The White House. November 23, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ El-Bawab, Nadine; Barr, Luke (November 30, 2022). "Walmart employee complained about suspect's behavior months before mass shooting: Lawsuit". ABC News. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
- ^ Larche, Jessica (December 6, 2022). "Second lawsuit filed against Walmart after mass shooting in Chesapeake". News 3 WTKR. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
- ^ "$50M lawsuit from Chesapeake Walmart mass shooting dismissed 'with prejudice'". News 3 WTKR Norfolk. April 18, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
- ^ memorial, Store includes outdoor; Nonprofits, Grants Announced to Local; Artist, Mural from Local. "Remodeled Chesapeake Walmart 'Store of the Future' Reopens to the Community". corporate.walmart.com. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
- ^ Varnier, Julia (April 3, 2023). "Chesapeake Walmart to reopen nearly 5 months after 6 employees were killed in mass shooting: Official". News 3 WTKR Norfolk. Retrieved April 4, 2023.