At least seven people were killed in a shooting at a Walmart supermarket in the US state of Virginia last night. The conflict takes place on Thanksgiving eve and a few days after the attack on an LGBTQIA+ nightclub in Colorado, which killed five people and caused great turmoil in the country.
The perpetrator of the massacre at a Walmart unit in Chesapeake was killed by the police.
“We found several dead and injured,” said Leo Kosinski, Chief of the Chesapeake Police Department. said.
Praising the quick response of the police officers who entered the market “immediately”, Kosinski said, “We believe there was only one gunman and that the only gunman died.”
The first calls to emergency services were made at 22:00 (0:00 Brazilian time), when the market was still open.
Earlier, the city of Chesapeake said on its official Twitter account that police had confirmed “an ongoing shooting incident at Sam’s Circle Walmart that resulted in deaths.”
Our first aid units are well-trained and ready to respond.”
Footage from TV channels in the city shows a large police presence in the supermarket.
Kosinski announced that the police and investigators cordoned off the attack area.
‘Meaningless’
Walmart, the largest US retailer, said in a statement that it was “appalled by this tragic event”.
The company’s memo adds, “We pray for those affected, the community and our partners. We work closely with security forces and are focused on supporting our employees.”
Virginia State Senator Louise Lucas said she was “sorry that the latest mass murder in the United States took place tonight at a Walmart in my area in Chesapeake, Virginia.”
“I will not rest until I find solutions to end this epidemic of gun violence that has claimed so many lives in our country,” he wrote on Twitter.
Chesapeake is 240 kilometers southeast of Washington DC, the capital city of the United States.
The massacre took place less than 48 hours before Thanksgiving celebrations in the country.
Congressman Bobby Scott, representing the state of Virginia, said, “Tragically, when our families get together for Thanksgiving, our community suffers another senseless episode of gun violence.”
On Saturday, a gunman opened fire on an LGBTQIA+ nightclub in Colorado Springs (west). The attack ended with five dead and 18 injured.
The shooter, identified as 25-year-old Anderson Lee Aldrich, was comforted by two customers. He’s facing murder charges and a possible hate crime.
This type of crime is understood in the United States as an act against a person based on their identity, including race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability. When considered a federal crime with aggravating circumstances, it can result in more severe penalties.
Gun violence continues at an alarming rate in the United States, a country with more than 600 shootings recorded in 2022, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
* With information from AFP
source: Noticias
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.