CHESAPEAKE, Va. — As we inch closer to Thanksgiving and the holiday season, the Chesapeake community is also nearing a more tragic anniversary: one year since the mass shooting at the Walmart in Greenbrier.
On Nov. 22, 2022, a gunman opened fire inside the Walmart, killing six people and injuring others before killing himself. Several people were also hurt in the chaos.
Since that day, survivors have come forward with lawsuits against the store.
Now, a Walmart spokesperson has announced that the store on Sams Circle will close early to give its associates time to reflect and grieve.
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This year, Nov. 22 falls on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. The surrounding stores in the region are scheduled to stay open until 11 p.m. Wednesday night, close for the holiday, and reopen Black Friday at 6 a.m.
The Sams Circle Walmart will close at 5 p.m. that Wednesday, and also reopen 6 a.m. Black Friday.
Last year, the store closed immediately following the shooting, and underwent significant design changes, including an outdoor memorial space to "honor the victims and provide a place of comfort." It reopened April 19.
The memorial has greenery and six seating structures honoring the Walmart associates who were killed, along with a plaque displaying the victims’ names: Brian Pendleton, Kellie Pyle, Lorenzo Gamble, Randy Blevins, Tyneka Johnson, and Fernando Chavez-Barron.
Walmart's announcement reminded people of the memorial, saying that it's a "special place of rest and reflection," and that "Walmart welcomes the community to visit the memorial during the store's hours of operation."