VIDEO: Seven killed, several wounded in Virginia Walmart shooting

Gulf Today Report

Seven people were killed and several wounded in a shooting at a Walmart in Chesapeake, Virginia, on Tuesday night, authorities said, just days after a gunman killed five and injured 17 at a Colorado nightclub.

The city of Chesapeake confirmed the deaths in a tweet early on Wednesday, citing the city police.

In an initial update, police had said they believed that fewer than 10 people had been killed, according to public information officer Leo Kosinski.

Police at the time were still looking for victims, who could be injured or were inside the "very large" store with a lot of hiding spots, he said.

"We want to make sure everyone is accounted for," he said.

He added that police believed there was only one shooter, who had been killed.

Police have so far not provided any details about the suspected shooter, but several media outlets have identified him as a manager at the store. Kosinski said the police did not know if the shooter was employed by Walmart.

The outburst of gun violence in the city of Chesapeake comes just before Americans celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, and follows another mass shooting at a club in Colorado late Saturday that left five people dead.

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"We were able to find multiple fatalities and multiple injured parties," Chesapeake Police Department officer Leo Kosinski told reporters at the scene, saying rapid response officers and tactical teams entered the store "immediately" after arriving on the scene.

"We believe it is a single shooter and that single shooter is deceased at this time," he said, without clarifying how the suspected shooter died.

Chesapeake Police Public Information Officer delivers an update to the press. AP

News footage showed a major police presence at the scene with Kosinski saying several officers and investigators were carefully sweeping the store and securing the area.

The exact number of fatalities remained unclear. Kosinski told reporters that police believed no more than 10 people were killed.

Walmart, the largest retailer in the United States, issued a statement early Wednesday saying: "We are shocked at this tragic event."

The company added that it was "praying for those impacted, the community and our associates. We're working closely with law enforcement, and we are focused on supporting our associates."

‘Senseless violence’

Virginia state Senator Louise Lucas, who represents the Chesapeake region that lies 150 miles (240 kilometres) southeast of the US capital Washington, said she was "absolutely heartbroken that America's latest mass shooting took place... in my district."

Police cars at the scene of a fatal shooting at a Walmart store in Chesapeake, Virginia. AP

The shooting occurred at a major retailer less than 48 hours before Americans nationwide celebrate Thanksgiving.

"Tragically, our community is suffering from yet another incident of senseless gun violence just as families are gathering for Thanksgiving," tweeted US congressman Bobby Scott of Virginia.