Chesapeake Walmart mass shooting brings back 2019 El Paso memories

A gunman opened
fire inside a Walmart in Chesapeake, Virginia in the United States on Tuesday
night. Police say 10 people died in the incident, including the gunman. Reports
suggest it was the store’s night manager who turned into a mass shooter.
Authorities, however, have not confirmed the identity of the shooter.

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Virginia Senator L
Louis Lucas tweeted: “I am absolutely heartbroken that America’s latest mass
shooting took place in a Walmart in my district in Chesapeake, Virginia
tonight. I will not rest until we find the solutions to end this gun violence
epidemic in our country that has taken so many lives.”

The incident in
Chesapeake, Virginia has reminded many of the incident in El Paso, Texas in on
August 3, 2019. Patrick Wood Crusius, a 21-year-old from Allen, Texas, allegedly
shot 23 people dead inside a Walmart. Crusius was identified as a white supremacist
who subscribed to anti-immigrant views and the conspiracy theory called the
Great Replacement.

Also Read | Who was Andre Bing, alleged Chesapeake, Virginia Walmart shooting suspect?

The shooting
happened in the morning at the Walmart Supercenter near the Cielo Vista Mall. The
incident was described as one of the deadliest anti-Latino attacks in history.

Following the
shooting, a Walmart corporate employee sent out a memorandum to Walmart’s
e-commerce division, which includes thousands of employees, urging a ‘sick-out’
strike to make the corporation stop selling guns.

Also Read | Virginia Senator L Louis Lucas on Chesapeake Walmart shooting: Won’t rest till end of gun violence

Later, Walmart
sent out a memo to employees asking for the removal of signs and displays that
may propel “contain violent themes or aggressive behaviour”. The company also
pledged $400,000 for funds to help victims of mass shootings.

In September,
Walmart decided to stop selling ammunition for handguns and assault rifles in
the United States, as well as customers to not openly carry firearms into their
stores.