Six people were killed and four others were hospitalized after a shooter opened fire inside a Walmart Supercenter in Virginia late on Tuesday, Nov. 22. This was the second high-profile mass murder in a short period of time. Police have confirmed that the attacker has also died from a gunshot wound that was likely self-inflicted, said reports.

Chesapeake Police Chief Mark Solesky stated that the gunman was a store employee but his identity would not be released until his next of kin had been notified.

He was found dead at the scene.

Regarding whether the victims were customers, employees, or both, the police declined to comment.

Three days prior, a gunman in Colorado opened fire at a gay bar, killing 5 people and injuring 17.

At least five deadly shootings inside supermarkets have occurred in the United States so far this year, including one in Buffalo last May that left 10 customers dead, most of them Black.

The shooting on Tuesday brought back memories of a shooting in neighboring Virginia Beach in 2019 that killed 12 people. Then-Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam responded by proposing a range of gun-reform measures for Virginia, home to the NRA.

The measures saw mixed success after a backlash from pro-rights groups, including a high-profile 2020 rally of thousands of armed protestors. Last year, new background check rules and limits on the number of firearms a person can purchase went into effect.

Tuesday's gunman was believed to have been carrying a single pistol and acted alone, Solenksy said.

Police say they arrived on the scene at 10:14 p.m. ET on Monday, two minutes after the first 911 call, and had officially cleared the store by 11:20 p.m.

"Chesapeake Police SWAT Team executed a search warrant at the suspect's residence," Solenksy added. "With the help of Virginia State Police, we cleared the house. We have reason to believe that there's no risk to the public at this time."

Authorities said four Walmart patients are being treated at Norfolk General Hospital, but their conditions were not immediately available. (A hospital spokesperson earlier stated that five patients were being treated; it is unclear if one had been released.)

Walmart tweeted that it was "shocked at this tragic event."

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin echoed that sentiment through social media.

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