Six people have been killed after a Walmart employee opened fire at a Virginia store.
A seventh person is believed to be the shooter, and four other victims are being treated in hospital, police said.
Police were called to the incident shortly after 10 p.m. local time in Chesapeake City, spokesman Leo Kosinski said.
“Chesapeake Police confirm that there has been a shooting at the Walmart in Sam’s Circle and the shooter has died. The shooter has died,” the city of Chesapeake tweeted.
Multiple dead in Walmart shooting
Witness Kevin Harper, who was wearing a Walmart uniform, said he left an employee break room before the suspect, who he said was a manager at the store, entered and opened fire.
“It’s crazy. It’s a manager — one of the managers,” he said during a live Facebook Live.
“Sadly, we’ve lost some partners, I don’t know how many.”
One woman told WAVY-TV that her 20-year-old employee brother was shot dead 10 minutes into his shift.
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Senator Louis Lucas tweeted: “I am devastated that the latest mass shooting in the United States happened tonight at a Walmart in my area in Chesapeake, Virginia.
“I will not rest until we find a solution to end our nation’s epidemic of gun violence that has claimed so many lives.”
Many people were also injured and five victims were reportedly being treated at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in the nearby city of Norfolk.
Mr. Kosinski said police believed the shooting took place inside the store, but one person was found dead outside the building.
Mr Kosinski added that “to the best of his knowledge” police had not fired shots.
He added that the store was very large and people had many places to hide from the shooter.
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The City of Chesapeake’s Twitter account tweeted: “A family reunion site has been set up at the Chesapeake Convention Center (700 Conference Center Drive). This site is only for immediate family or people who may be in the building emergency contacts to use.”
Photo: Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot via AP
Senator Mark Warner tweeted: “Disgusted by reports of yet another mass shooting, this time at a Chesapeake Walmart. I will be monitoring developments closely.”
Walmart said it was “appalled” by the incident at its stores.
“We are appalled by this tragic incident at our Chesapeake store in Virginia. Our prayers go out to those affected, the community and our employees,” the company tweeted.
The Chesapeake Walmart is a “supercenter,” meaning it sells groceries and other products. There are more than 3,500 Walmart Supercenters in the United States.
Three days later the Virginia shooting A man opens fire at a gay nightclub in Coloradoresulting in 5 deaths and 17 injuries.
The attacker, who is said to be non-binary, was arrested after patrons of the club punched and punched them.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 606 mass shootings in the United States this year, defined as involving four or more victims.