Officials investigating the fatal shooting of six people at a Walmart in southern Virginia said that the gunman legally purchased a 9mm firearm hours before the incident and left a note with criticisms of co-workers on his phone.
Police in the city of Chesapeake issued a news release on Friday saying that they had conducted a forensic analysis of Walmart supervisor Andre Bing’s phone and found a file labelled “Death note”.
In the note, released by police, Bing said his co-workers had harassed and mocked him.
“I was harassed by idiots of low intelligence and a lack of wisdom … They laughed at me and said that I was like Jeffrey Dahmer,” read part of the note, posted on Twitter.
The rambling manifesto also said that Bing was “one of the most loving people in the world” and “wanted a wife” but didn't deserve one.
Police said Bing had several magazines on him and died of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound.
He was “dressed in civilian clothing and was not wearing any type of armour or a ballistic vest”, the police statement read.
In a statement, Walmart identified Bing as an overnight shift team leader who had been with the company since 2010. Co-workers told various media outlets that Bing was paranoid about the government, kept tape over the lens of his phone's camera and had made threats against various employees.
Joshua Johnson, who worked as a maintenance worker at the store until 2019, told CNN that Bing had previously issued ominous threats if he were to ever lose his job.
“He said if he ever got fired from his job, he would retaliate and people would remember who he was,” Mr Johnson said.
Another employee, Donya Prioleau, said he was “quite mean” and could be “condescending when he spoke to us”.
Police identified the victims as Brian Pendleton, 38; Kellie Pyle, 52; Lorenzo Gamble, 43; and Randy Blevins, 70, all of whom were from Chesapeake; and Tyneka Johnson, 22, of nearby Portsmouth.
Among the victims was a 16-year-old boy whose name was being withheld.
Located about 65km south-east of Washington, the store was busy before the attack on Tuesday night, with people stocking up ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, a shopper told a local TV station.
Police spokesman Leo Kosinski said officers responded “in an active shooter fashion at 10.15pm” local time. He said that in a period of 30 to 45 minutes, police found “multiple fatalities and multiple injured parties”, including the gunman.
Virginia was still reeling from a shooting last week in which three University of Virginia American football players were killed.
The US has now had 40 mass killings so far this year, second to the 45 that occurred for all of 2019.
A mass killing is defined as at least four people killed, not including the killer.
President Joe Biden described the shooting as “yet another horrific and senseless act of violence”.
“Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, one of our most cherished holidays that brings us together as Americans and as families, when we hug our loved ones and count our blessings,” Mr Biden said in a statement.
But because of the shooting, “there are now more families who know the worst kind of loss and pain imaginable”.
Five killed in shooting at Colorado Springs nightclub
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Mourners stand outside Colorado Springs City Hall. Getty Images / AFP -
A gunman opened fire in a Colorado Springs nightclub on November 19, killing five and injuring 25. Getty Images / AFP -
Hundreds rallied outside the courthouse to recognise the victims and comfort each other. Getty Images / AFP -
Club Q co-owner Nic Grzecka is embraced by mourners outside Colorado Springs City Hall. Getty Images / AFP -
Supporters of Club Q embrace outside city hall. AP -
The crowd listens to speakers outside city hall. AP -
There were many tears for the victims from friends, families and a lot of supportive strangers. AP -
Nic Grezcka, co-owner of Club Q, hugs a patron outside city hall. AP -
The alleged gunman faces possible hate crime charges. AP -
Investigators continue to collect evidence after a mass shooting at Club Q. AP -
The gunman was released from hospital on Tuesday. AP -
Photographs of the victims of the mass shooting make up part of a makeshift memorial near the club. AP -
Preliminary charges against the gunman include five counts of first-degree murder and five counts of a bias-motivated crime – elsewhere called a hate crime – causing bodily injury, per El Paso County Court’s online docket. AP -
A mass shooting is defined as an incident with at least four killed or injured, not including the gunman. AP -
Richard Fierro consoles his daughter, Kassandra, whose boyfriend, Raymond Green Vance, was among those killed. Mr Fierro, a US Army veteran, is credited with subduing the gunman. Getty Images / AFP -
Mr Fierro consoles his daughter, Kassandra, as she mourns her boyfriend at the memorial outside of Club Q. Getty Images / AFP -
Artist Paes164 paints a mural at his art gallery and lounge in Colorado Springs. Reuters -
Latisha Hardy and daughter Yvonne Shepherd write notes in chalk on the sidewalk at the memorial. Reuters -
Shooting survivor Ed Sanders says he is resilient and won't be 'taken out by some sick person'. AP -
James Slaugh suffered a bullet wound to his shoulder during the mass shooting. AP -
Dallas Dutka says a prayer for her cousin Daniel Aston who was killed in the shooting. AP -
The US has recorded more than 600 mass shootings so far this year, the Gun Violence Archive reported. Getty Images / AFP -
Raymond Green Vance was celebrating a birthday at the club when he was killed. AP -
Victim Kelly Loving was described by her sister as loving, caring and sweet. AP -
Victim Ashley Paugh had a young daughter and worked with a non-profit that helped foster children. EPA -
Derrick Rump was a bartender at Club Q. EPA -
Daniel Aston, the bar's supervisor, moved to Colorado Springs two years ago to be closer to his mother and father. EPA -
Mr Fierro said that he does not consider himself a hero and was merely thinking of saving his family when he tackled the gunman. AP
