Friday, May 3, 2024

Who were the Virginia Walmart shooting victims?



The victims embrace a 16-year-old boy working to assist his household, a longtime worker who by no means missed a day of labor, and a mom with marriage ceremony plans.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. — A 16-year-old serving to his household. A custodian and father of two. A mom with marriage ceremony plans. A contented-go-lucky man. A longtime worker.

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That’s how family and friends described a few of the six individuals killed at a Walmart in Chesapeake, Virginia, when a supervisor opened fire with a handgun earlier than an worker assembly Tuesday night time.

Here are some particulars about those that were misplaced:

Randy Blevins, 70, of Chesapeake

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Blevins began working for Walmart in the early Nineties after the five-and-dime he owned together with his spouse, Teresa, went beneath, his stepdaughter Cassandra Yeatts informed The Associated Press.

“When Walmart came to town, they kind of drove their business out of business,” Yeatts stated. “My mom contacted the manager of the Walmart at Sam’s Drive and said, ‘Hey, you put us out of business and my husband needs a job.’”

Blevins had an interview and acquired employed on the spot as an in a single day stocker, a job that included unloading vehicles, Yeatts stated.

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He appreciated the third shift as a result of he had the days to himself. He attended Norfolk Admirals hockey video games and watched skilled wrestling and Washington Commanders soccer video games on TV.

Blevins additionally took snapshots of individuals and locations in close by Isle of Wight County, in keeping with a 1996 story in the Isle of Wight Citizen. The photos were placed on postcards and bought at a unique five-and-dime that his brother managed.

Blevins by no means missed a day of labor, his stepdaughter stated.

“He never had any complaints about anyone that he worked with, and he enjoyed going into work,” Yeatts stated.

Blevins leaves behind three stepdaughters. And though he and his spouse Teresa Blevins divorced, they remained greatest pals, Yeatts stated.

“Thanksgiving and Christmas were his favorite holidays,” she stated.

Fernando “Jesus” Chavez-Barron, 16, of Chesapeake

Chavez-Barron was an honors scholar in the eleventh grade who had simply begun driving and had taken a part-time job to assist out his household, in keeping with pals and a GoFundMe web page arrange for the household. The web page’s organizer, Tamara Nelson, confirmed by cellphone that the web page was genuine, however she declined to remark additional.

“An outstanding son and excellent big brother, he loved building with Legos,” the GoFundMe web page states. “He will always be remembered as humble, loving, responsible and hardworking young man. His loss is felt, not only by his family, but by so many others in his community.”

Family buddy Rosy Perez informed The New York Times that the teen labored the in a single day shift at Walmart to help his household.

“He wanted to help a little bit,” Perez stated. “He was a very good child.”

Kellie Pyle, 52, of Chesapeake

Pyle grew up in Norfolk, Virginia, and moved again to the Hampton Roads area from Kentucky after reconnecting along with her highschool sweetheart on Facebook.

She and Brian Baker deliberate to marry subsequent 12 months.

“I’ve never seen her this happy, except when she talked about her children,” stated a cousin, William Pillar-Gibson.

“This was not just a new chapter for her — it was the best chapter,” Pillar-Gibson informed the AP. “She was a grandmother. Her children were thriving. She was with the love of her life. She was back home.”

Pyle had two grownup kids of their 20s and a younger granddaughter who was “the light of Kellie’s life,” her cousin stated.

Pyle had been the caregiver for her dad and mom when their well being failed and for her brother when he had a stroke.

“She handled everything,” Pillar-Gibson stated. “When something needed to be done, she did it. And she experienced a lot of loss.”

Recently, Pyle was extending her generosity and caregiving to the mom of her fiance, Gwendolyn Bowe Baker Spencer.

In a quick assertion to the AP, Spencer stated: “We love her … She was an awesome, kind individual — yes she was.”

Brian Pendleton, 38, of Chesapeake

Pendleton made positive to be punctual. Although his shift as a custodian began at 10:30 p.m., he was in the break room when the shooting began simply after 10, in keeping with his mom, Michelle Johnson.

“He always came to work early so he would be on time for work,” she informed The Associated Press Wednesday. “He liked his coworkers.”

Pendleton had just lately celebrated his 10-year anniversary working at the retailer.

His mom stated he didn’t have any issues at work, besides with a supervisor, Andre Bing, who was recognized as the gunman.

“He just didn’t like my son,” Johnson stated. “He would tell me that he (Bing) would give him a hard time.”

Pendleton was born with a congenital mind dysfunction and grew up in Chesapeake, his mom stated.

“He called me yesterday before he was going to work,” Johnson stated. “I always tell him to call me when gets off work.”

As she was preparing for mattress, Johnson acquired a name from a household buddy telling her there was a shooting at the Walmart.

“Brian was a happy-go-lucky guy. Brian loved family. Brian loved friends. He loved to tell jokes,” his mom stated. “We’re going to miss him.”

Lorenzo Gamble, 43, of Chesapeake

Gamble was a custodian on the in a single day shift and had labored at Walmart for 15 years, The Washington Post reported.

His dad and mom Linda and Alonzo Gamble stated he beloved spending time together with his two sons.

“He just kept to himself and did his job,” Linda Gamble stated. “He was the quiet one of the family.”

His mom stated Gamble loved going to his 19-year-old’s soccer video games and cheering for the Washington Commanders NFL workforce.

She posted on Facebook that she’s having hassle saying goodbye.

“Missing my baby right now, life is not same without my son,” she wrote.

Tyneka Johnson, 22, of Portsmouth

Theodore Johnson, 41, informed The New York Times that his cousin lived along with her mom.

“She was young and wanted to make her own money,” he stated.

When Johnson attended Western Branch High School, Casheba Cannon tutored the scholar with desires of faculty and a supportive household, Cannon informed The Washington Post.

“Education was in the forefront. Her family did whatever they had to do to make sure she got assistance,” Cannon stated.

Johnson was prepared to work to higher herself, however she was additionally cheerful, helped youthful college students and “gelled” with everybody she encountered at Cannon’s Blessed Tutoring Services, she stated. Johnson had a way of favor and love for music and dancing.

“She was that kid. When she came to tutoring, she was very well put together,” Cannon stated. “Tyneka was a light in a dim room.”

A makeshift memorial to Johnson was positioned in a grassy space exterior the Walmart, with the phrases “Our Hearts are with you” and a basket of flowers.

The remembrance included a cluster of blue, white and gold balloons tied to a tree, alongside a stark yellow line of police tape.



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