CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Radio traffic collected by 13News Now provides a behind-the-scenes vantage point into the initial moments of chaos when first responders first got the call about the Walmart mass shooting in Chesapeake.
Chesapeake Police Chief Mark Salesky told media Wednesday morning that the first officers entered the building about four minutes after the initial 911 call.
Within moments of that initial dispatch call, scanner traffic also shows medics had already been called to the store on Battlefield Boulevard, with the earliest correspondence indicating one of the first victims responders found is a young teenager suffering from a gunshot wound.
Over the course of the night and into the early morning, authorities revealed a total of six victims were shot and killed by the gunman, who reportedly turned the gun on himself before officers arrived.
Despite the chaos, first responders and dispatch calmly accessed the scene, attempting to save lives even before the exact whereabouts and condition of the suspect were known.
"He entered the break room and shot someone, he is possibly in the breakroom with a gunshot wound to the head," a responder noted.
Four of the victims were found dead on scene, and the three other individuals who lost their lives were transported to local area hospitals.
The initial moments of emergency response also show medical support from neighboring cities were called on.
“Contact Portsmouth, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach; see if they can each send us one medic unit," a voice over the radio said.
Here is more of the timeline from Wednesday during the developing story:
Timeline of Chesapeake shooting
Tuesday, Nov. 22
10:12 p.m. — The Chesapeake Police Department got the call about the shooting. Around two minutes later, police officers arrived at the Walmart.
10:16 p.m. — First police teams enter the store.
11 p.m. — A spokesperson for the Chesapeake Police Department confirmed that there was an active shooter at the Walmart. The department said there were multiple fatalities, including the shooter, but the exact number was unknown at the time.
11:20 p.m. — Police declared the scene to be safe.
Wednesday, Nov. 23
12:10 a.m. — The ATF's Washington field division said it was en route to help the Chesapeake Police Department investigate the shooting.
12:38 a.m. — Chesapeake city officials said they set up a family reunification site at the Chesapeake Conference Center for immediate family members or the emergency contact of those who may have been inside Walmart.
1:17 a.m. — Walmart released a statement saying the company is working with law enforcement and focused on supporting employees.
4:30 a.m. — The Chesapeake Police Department confirmed that 7 people were killed in the shooting, including the gunman.
7 a.m. — ABC News reported that the shooter entered the breakroom of the Walmart and began to fire at fellow employees before turning the gun on himself.
8 a.m. — Chesapeake city officials hold a press conference to share what their investigation uncovered about the shooting. Chesapeake Police Chief Mark Solesky said he couldn't share the name of the shooter, because his next of kin had not been notified.
The Walmart will be closed as investigators process the scene over the next few days.
10:20 a.m. — The FBI opened a tip hotline. Anyone with information about what happened is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
1:20 p.m. — Walmart and Chesapeake city officials identified the shooter as Andre Bing, 31, a store associate who worked as the overnight team's lead. He was employed since 2010.
He was armed with one handgun and had multiple magazines on him, according to city officials.
2:30 p.m. — The Chesapeake Police Department unveils more details about the shooting. Here are the main takeaways:
- Three people, including the shooter, were found dead in the store's breakroom, one was found near the front of the store and three were taken to hospitals but succumbed to their injuries.
- At least 50 people were believed to have been inside the store when the shooting happened.
- The suspected gunman, Andre Bing, was found with a handgun and several magazines on him.
5 p.m. — The Chesapeake Police Department identified the five of six victims who died in the Walmart mass shooting:
- Brian Pendleton, 38, of Chesapeake
- Kellie Pyle, 52, Chesapeake
- Lorenzo Gamble, 43, of Chesapeake
- Randy Blevins, 70, of Chesapeake
- Tyneka Johnson, 22, of Portsmouth (CPD previously said her age was 38 and has since sent a correction)
Friday, Nov. 25
9 a.m. — The Chesapeake Police Department unveiled new details in the investigation about the suspected gunman. Here are the takeaways:
- The shooter used a 9mm handgun that was legally purchased from a local store on the day of the shooting.
- Investigators found a manifesto on the suspect's phone that outlined a possible motive for the shooting.
11:15 a.m. — Police identified the sixth victim as Fernando Chavez-Barron, 16, of Chesapeake. His name and picture were previously withheld since he was a minor.