CHESAPEAKE, Va. — The City of Chesapeake is remembering the six lives lost during the shooting in Walmart on Nov. 22, 2022 that destroyed so many lives.
Six store employees lost their lives in the massacre that unfolded around the time of evening shift change merely days before Thanksgiving in 2022.
Tyneka Johnson, Brian Pendleton, Randy Blevins, Kellie Pyle, Lorenzo Gamble and Fernando Chavez-Barron were killed in the shooting. They ranged in age from 16 to 70 years old.
"I think about it every time I go into that store, just how much tragedy happened," said one shopper.
The Walmart store closed early on Wednesday night at 5 p.m. Walmart executives said they did this out of consideration for all of the employees who might have been there the night of the shooting.
"This is a tough week for our associates, and we are doing everything that we can to support them," said Eddie Bostic, Walmart's Regional Vice President.
In a video statement, Bostic said Walmart will offer free grief counseling to all employees at the store, and asked other crews to come in and help run the store, so some employees can take the day off.
This comes just days after a judge ruled a $50 million lawsuit filed by an employee there the night of the shooting can move forward.
Chesapeake city leaders also posted to social media to remember the one year anniversary, saying: "Today, we remember the precious lives lost on November 22, 2022. We send love to their family and friends. We send love to those who were hurt – physically and emotionally – by this senseless act."
The Walmart store will remain closed until Friday morning at 6 a.m.