Three people, including shooter, were found dead in Walmart break room, Chesapeake officials say
Three people fatally shot in the Walmart in Chesapeake, including the gunman, were found dead in the store's break room, the city of Chesapeake tweeted Wednesday afternoon.
City officials tweeted that another victim was found dead near the front of the store. Three other victims were rushed to local hospitals but died of their injuries, officials said.
At least six other victims were taken to local hospitals for treatment, including one person who was in critical condition Wednesday afternoon, city officials said.
Doctor says Norfolk hospital is treating 3 patients, including 2 in critical condition
Dr. Michael Hooper of Sentara Norfolk General said Wednesday that five patients were transferred to his hospital, including two who died.
The three other patients are still being treated, he said in a live interview on CNN — two are in critical condition and one is in good condition.
Hooper said he was not sure whether the two people who died were among the six already confirmed by police to have been killed.
Investigators search Walmart gunman's house
Investigators on Wednesday scoured the home of the Walmart employee who opened fire at the Chesapeake store where he worked. Photos from the scene appeared to show a knocked-in front door and a black SUV parked outside.
Virginia governor orders flags to fly at half-staff
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has ordered that the national and the state flags must be flown at half-staff over all government buildings in the state "in respect and memory of the victims" of the Chesapeake shooting.
In a signed order, he said flags should be lowered immediately Wednesday and remain at half-staff until Sunday at sunset.
Chesapeake municipal government shares location for family reunifications
Biden condemns 'horrific' Virginia Walmart shooting
President Joe Biden lamented the loss of lives in the shooting, noting in a statement Wednesday that “yet another horrific and senseless act of violence” happened on the eve of Thanksgiving.
“There are now even more tables across the country that will have empty seats this Thanksgiving," he said. “There are now more families who know the worst kind of loss and pain imaginable.”
Biden said that he and first lady Jill Biden are grieving for the families of the shooting victims, the Chesapeake community and the commonwealth of Virginia, which suffered a “terrible shooting” at the University of Virginia earlier this month.
“We also mourn for all those across America who have lost loved ones to these tragic shootings that we must come together as a nation to stand against,” Biden said, adding that he is grateful to the first responders on the scene.
The president said he has directed federal officials to provide the support and assistance needed to the people of Chesapeake.
Obama calls for action against gun violence after Chesapeake shooting
Former President Barack Obama, who repeatedly called for tougher gun control measures during his time in office but was met with stiff resistance from Congress, called for action Wednesday morning after the mass shooting in Virginia.
"We can and must do more to reduce gun violence in America," he tweeted, linking to a news article about the shooting at a Walmart store in Chesapeake.
Rumors of an active shooter at a Chesapeake Target store are untrue, officials say
Chesapeake city officials said rumors circulating on social media Wednesday morning of an active shooter at a local Target store are untrue.
"Rumors of an active shooter at Target in Chesapeake are UNTRUE," officials tweeted from the city's account. "Please help us control rumors by only sharing information from this account."
Elizabeth Vaughn, the city's deputy director of public communications, told NBC News in an email that "police responded to reports of an armed person but found this to be untrue."
Tweets from a local reporter show people shaken up by the false alarm.