WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.720 --> 00:00:03.879 We have an active shooter. We have an after er ending queer list a 2 00:00:03.879 --> 00:00:12.320 mass casualty Welcome to Active Shooter, a podcast that covers the wise, the 3 00:00:12.439 --> 00:00:23.079 house and the aftermath of active shooter and mass casualty events. They have an 4 00:00:23.079 --> 00:00:28.679 active shooter in the building. Attacking calls says they are vagor tax one six 5 00:00:28.839 --> 00:00:32.880 nineteenies. We got John Squire at four fifteen eight at a Route ninety one. 6 00:00:32.920 --> 00:00:50.679 So I'm like automatic quier on active shooter. Courts of an active shooter, 7 00:00:50.840 --> 00:00:57.719 active shooter, active shooter in mass casualty incidents. Thank you for listening. 8 00:01:00.119 --> 00:01:03.159 You are listening to Active Shooter, a podcast that may contain adult themes, 9 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:08.079 explicit language, and graphic depictions of violence. Portions of the show may 10 00:01:08.079 --> 00:01:15.480 be traumatic for those under eighteen. Listener discretion is advised. We are coming 11 00:01:15.480 --> 00:01:19.640 on the air early with breaking news. Unfortunately, another mass shooting in this 12 00:01:19.719 --> 00:01:23.879 country. Yeah, gunman opening fire inside a Walmart store in Chesapeake, Virginia 13 00:01:23.959 --> 00:01:29.680 overnight, killing at least six people. The news is still unfolding this morning. 14 00:01:29.719 --> 00:01:32.200 We want to go right to NBC's Cal Perry. He is at the 15 00:01:32.280 --> 00:01:37.519 scene in cal Good morning, what is the latest you've heard Savanna, Good 16 00:01:37.560 --> 00:01:41.120 morning to you. The shooting taking place about eight hours ago. The priority 17 00:01:41.159 --> 00:01:45.439 from officials was to clear the walmart behind me. They were worried that people, 18 00:01:45.480 --> 00:01:48.879 as they were instructed to do, would be sheltering in place. Now 19 00:01:48.920 --> 00:01:53.680 at this hour, at least seven people are confirmed dead, including the gunman. 20 00:01:53.799 --> 00:01:57.439 Police saying they are aware that there are reports that the gunman may have 21 00:01:57.599 --> 00:02:00.920 been an employee of the walmart behind me. We are not confirm that as 22 00:02:00.920 --> 00:02:07.200 of yet. It's an unimaginable scenario waking up on an ordinary Tuesday morning, 23 00:02:07.680 --> 00:02:12.680 going to work as you normally do five to seven days each week, and 24 00:02:12.800 --> 00:02:17.280 facing a kind of violence that takes your life, or perhaps worse, having 25 00:02:17.319 --> 00:02:22.439 a loved one wake up on a typical Tuesday, go to work and never 26 00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:29.360 return because of gun violence. So many of us are ordinary folks who live 27 00:02:29.599 --> 00:02:35.639 regular lives and simply cannot fathom the very real possibility of finding themselves in an 28 00:02:35.639 --> 00:02:40.159 active shooting, the very real possibility of losing a family member in such a 29 00:02:40.280 --> 00:02:46.000 dark and horrific manner. The shooting at the Chesapeake Walmart took the lives of 30 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:52.919 six employees who never imagined that their last day alive would be at the hands 31 00:02:52.960 --> 00:02:59.479 of a man they interacted with day in and day out. Seven injured survivors 32 00:02:59.520 --> 00:03:06.199 never land to have their entire world flipped upside down and forced to piece back 33 00:03:06.240 --> 00:03:12.960 the damaged parts of their souls. Countless families did not expect to be impacted 34 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:19.319 by the malicious and evil actions of one man. Today's case is dedicated to 35 00:03:19.319 --> 00:03:24.560 the lives and memories of the seven injured survivors, as well as the six 36 00:03:25.560 --> 00:03:32.800 Randy Blevins, Fernando Jesus Chavez, Baron, Tanika Johnson, Lorenzo Gamble, 37 00:03:34.439 --> 00:03:42.639 Brian Pendleton, and Kelly Pyle. Active Shooter the podcast is a High five 38 00:03:42.719 --> 00:03:50.159 Holly production, and I'm your host JT. If you've listened to our prior 39 00:03:50.199 --> 00:03:54.560 episodes, you know that the Active Shooter podcast team has taken the no Notoriety 40 00:03:54.599 --> 00:03:59.439 pledge and we will not be sharing the real name of the shooters that we 41 00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:03.560 cover. We will be giving the shooters a pseudonym and refer to them by 42 00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:09.039 that name throughout the episode. This will help in clearing up any confusion in 43 00:04:09.080 --> 00:04:13.479 the story. While remaining true to our pledge and not naming the shooter by 44 00:04:13.479 --> 00:04:31.959 their actual name. We will refer to today's shooter as Jeff. Around ten 45 00:04:32.040 --> 00:04:38.240 pm on November twenty second, twenty twenty two, the Walmart supercenter located at 46 00:04:38.279 --> 00:04:42.959 fifteen twenty one Sam Circle, Chesapeake, Virginia, was alive with activity. 47 00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:47.240 The third shifters were just clocking in for the night shift and expected to be 48 00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:55.160 especially busy with Thanksgiving and subsequently Black Friday mere days away. The store was 49 00:04:55.199 --> 00:05:00.040 still open to the public, and local shoppers from Virginia's second largest city of 50 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:04.120 approximately two hundred and fifty thousand full time residents were ushering in and out of 51 00:05:04.120 --> 00:05:10.439 the store, many of whom were likely shopping for their extensive Thanksgiving Day meals. 52 00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:14.519 It was a pleasant evening, with temperatures in the mid to low fifties, 53 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:20.959 even so late into the night. Thirty one year old night shift manager 54 00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:27.079 Jeff entered the store at ten twelve pm and, by all appearances, seemed 55 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:30.040 to be a regular guy who was showing up for a regular work shift. 56 00:05:30.800 --> 00:05:36.240 The unassuming five foot ten inch man blended in among the customers entering and exiting 57 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:42.000 the store. He didn't wear the ballistics vest or other armor we have come 58 00:05:42.040 --> 00:05:46.199 to see so often in mass shooters. He carried a nine millimeter handgun with 59 00:05:46.279 --> 00:05:51.959 several magazines filled with ammunition. Jeff had purchased the gun that very morning and 60 00:05:53.040 --> 00:05:58.160 immediately went for target practice, which was confirmed when police would later discover shooting 61 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:03.279 targets inside Jeff's car. Jeff headed straight towards the employee break room, which 62 00:06:03.319 --> 00:06:08.959 is where he always went at the start of each shift. Just moments before 63 00:06:09.079 --> 00:06:12.600 Jeff made it to the break room, a team lead was finishing up their 64 00:06:12.680 --> 00:06:16.120 nightly instructions before they were overheard saying, quote, all right, guys, 65 00:06:16.439 --> 00:06:20.839 we have a late night ahead of us. Before all hell broke loose. 66 00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:25.879 Well, I was literally just getting to work. Our shift is from ten 67 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:29.000 to seven, ten pm to seven am. I got there a few minutes 68 00:06:29.079 --> 00:06:31.079 late, about ten h six is when I clocked in on my phone. 69 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:34.040 I walked to the break room like normal, that's where we have our nightly 70 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:38.560 meeting of where everyone's going to be, you know, stocking their particular section, 71 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:43.199 and you know, I'm just standing there. There were a few things 72 00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:46.959 that seemed like off to me about that whole night that just they stick out 73 00:06:46.279 --> 00:06:53.439 more to me now that that situation has happened, Like just different things like 74 00:06:53.519 --> 00:06:57.199 the maintenance man who actually the first person to end up getting hit. He 75 00:06:57.240 --> 00:07:00.040 actually went around the entire room and gave every when trash bags, which he 76 00:07:00.040 --> 00:07:03.319 doesn't normally does, so that stuck out to me. And then like when 77 00:07:03.319 --> 00:07:06.959 I walked in the room, something in me told me not to sit down. 78 00:07:08.040 --> 00:07:11.319 I don't know exactly what it was, but something just said, just 79 00:07:11.399 --> 00:07:14.279 stand up, just stand up, and I just stood up the entire time. 80 00:07:14.839 --> 00:07:16.600 As soon as the team lead said he was about to get the meeting 81 00:07:16.600 --> 00:07:18.920 started, he said, all right, guys, we have a really light 82 00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:24.639 night tonight. And as soon as he said that, the supervite or the 83 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:29.279 manager just came around the corner and literally just opened fire and just started swaying 84 00:07:29.279 --> 00:07:32.279 his arm back and forth. He didn't have a target, he didn't you 85 00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:36.040 know, He wasn't aiming for anybody specifically. He literally was just shooting across 86 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:43.959 the entire break room. There were about fifty people inside the walmart and about 87 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:48.319 thirteen employees in the breakroom when the shooting started. The employees in the break 88 00:07:48.399 --> 00:07:54.720 room were all sitting ducks, particularly since this shooter had specific targets in mind. 89 00:07:55.560 --> 00:07:59.319 Plus, Jeff would have known that the employees would be gathered there in 90 00:07:59.399 --> 00:08:03.399 order to receive their assignments for the night. Additionally, the break room is 91 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:07.959 where employees punch in and out, and as the name implies, employees often 92 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:13.879 took breaks in that room, so the in and out activity was frequent. 93 00:08:13.920 --> 00:08:18.920 As soon as he arrived at the break room, Jeff opened fire, shooting 94 00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:24.040 the weapon first at Brian Pendleton, a coworker that he targeted, though the 95 00:08:24.120 --> 00:08:30.240 reason he intensely disliked the other man enough to murder him in cold blood is 96 00:08:30.279 --> 00:08:37.080 both unclear and utterly inexplicable. Evidently, in early twenty twenty two, Jeff 97 00:08:37.080 --> 00:08:41.759 attempted to get Brian fired. However, the reason for the firing's not clear. 98 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:48.200 Brian was subsequently terminated from employment, which left him feeling puzzled. Brian 99 00:08:48.279 --> 00:08:52.840 had been a long time employee, and it doesn't seem that any concrete reason 100 00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:58.440 was ever provided to him. Without thinking twice, Brian called his former supervisor 101 00:08:58.440 --> 00:09:01.919 and asked for his job back, which was granted and Brian was back to 102 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:05.799 work in no time. Brian, who was only thirty eight at the time, 103 00:09:05.320 --> 00:09:11.759 was murdered, suffered from a brain condition called congenital hydrocephalis, which is 104 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:15.320 a build up a fluid on the brain, and some people with this condition 105 00:09:15.399 --> 00:09:20.559 can become medically disabled. Brian was employed at Walmart and had just celebrated his 106 00:09:20.600 --> 00:09:24.480 ten year anniversary. He was proud of his work history with the company, 107 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:30.720 which also consisted of a custodial position at one point. Brian was a model 108 00:09:30.759 --> 00:09:35.559 employee who was never late and rarely missed shifts. A lifelong Chesapeake resident, 109 00:09:35.799 --> 00:09:39.919 he loved his family and telling jokes, and was simply a joyful person, 110 00:09:41.399 --> 00:09:45.840 which made it all the more strange that Jeff despised him so. In fact, 111 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:48.919 Brian's mother later reported that Jeff never liked her son, though they never 112 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:54.080 fully understood why her son was a wonderful, hard working man, and the 113 00:09:54.159 --> 00:10:01.519 heart broken mother will never live the same after burying her child, adult or 114 00:10:01.639 --> 00:10:20.159 not. Some witnesses would later report that Jeff didn't say anything during the shooting. 115 00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:26.840 Others reported that Jeff laughed through the whole ordeal, which is beyond disturbing 116 00:10:26.879 --> 00:10:33.679 and unsettling. Petrified employees and customers alike began fleeing, running, and hiding 117 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:41.799 anywhere they might seek shelter. Sixteen year old Fernando Haysus Chavez barone, the 118 00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:46.320 youngest of the shooting victims. Was born on December twenty fourth, two thousand 119 00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:52.000 and five, in Charlottesville, Virginia. The teen who was so eager for 120 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:56.720 the responsibility of his first job was an affectionate and considerate young man, so 121 00:10:56.840 --> 00:11:01.879 much so that Hayesus used the earnings from his very first paycheck to buy a 122 00:11:01.879 --> 00:11:07.600 gift for his mom, which makes the senseless loss of this promising youngster so 123 00:11:07.799 --> 00:11:13.600 devastating. Jesus was a junior at Oscar Smith High School, where he was 124 00:11:13.639 --> 00:11:18.080 an honor roll student, which was only one of his already impressive accomplishments. 125 00:11:18.600 --> 00:11:24.759 He'd achieved much in his short life, and his light was extinguished much too 126 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:31.000 soon. Jeff continued his pursuit of co workers he viciously deemed unworthy of life 127 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:37.240 when he shot and killed seventy year old Randall Randy Blevins born in Chesapeake on 128 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:41.600 September twentieth, nineteen fifty two. Randy was the oldest of the shooting victims, 129 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:46.360 but it is not clear if he was specifically targeted. Like several other 130 00:11:46.399 --> 00:11:52.440 employees, he was a longtime employee of Walmart thirty years long to be exact. 131 00:11:52.360 --> 00:11:56.039 Randy and his wife owned a Ben Franklin craft Store before he went to 132 00:11:56.080 --> 00:12:01.759 work for the corporate giant. Randy was dedicated both to his job and his 133 00:12:01.879 --> 00:12:07.480 family. He would do anything for his beloved wife, Teresa, who he 134 00:12:07.559 --> 00:12:11.960 considered his very best friend. A loyal Norfolk Admiral's hockey team fan, he 135 00:12:13.080 --> 00:12:18.399 was happiest watching a game and attending professional wrestling events. Randy was an incredibly 136 00:12:18.480 --> 00:12:24.399 loyal man who leaves behind his soul mate Teresa, three stepdaughters, and four 137 00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:30.840 brothers who will never be the same without him. Some employees say that Jeff 138 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:35.639 was purposely hunting for certain co workers and would even continue shooting at those victims 139 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:41.480 unnecessarily, but he wanted to ensure their deaths and went to disgusting lengths to 140 00:12:41.519 --> 00:12:48.200 do so. A co worker named Jessica Wilcheski had only begun working for Walmart 141 00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:54.639 about five days earlier. The young woman was shaking uncontrollably hiding underneath a table 142 00:12:54.679 --> 00:12:58.200 when Jeff saw her and demanded she get out from under it. He took 143 00:12:58.200 --> 00:13:03.679 a closer look, seeing that Jessica wasn't who he was searching for, before 144 00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:09.679 ordering her to leave the store and go home. She very carefully stood exited 145 00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:13.159 the room, and ran as fast as she could from the store. The 146 00:13:13.320 --> 00:13:18.600 terror and trauma that this survivor must still be coping with his beyond anything one 147 00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:26.840 could imagine. Lorenzo Gambole was a valued, long standing Walmart employee of fifteen 148 00:13:26.919 --> 00:13:30.320 years. The forty three year old was born in Brooklyn, New York, 149 00:13:30.440 --> 00:13:35.039 on August thirtieth, nineteen seventy nine. He graduated as an honor student from 150 00:13:35.080 --> 00:13:39.759 Grape Ridge High School in nineteen ninety eight. Lorenzo, also known to friends 151 00:13:39.799 --> 00:13:43.960 and family as Zoe, loved football. He loved to watch and talk about 152 00:13:43.960 --> 00:13:48.960 the sport, and he even played fullback for a local recreational team called the 153 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:54.240 Redskins. In addition to being a mass of Washington Commander's fan, he typically 154 00:13:54.240 --> 00:14:00.360 worked the overnight shift as a custodian. Family was what Lorenzo loved and would 155 00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:05.559 do anything for. His wife, Sheila Monique Dolbe, a gamble and two 156 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:11.840 sons were quite literally his entire world, and theirs must feel empty without him 157 00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:16.679 now. Lorenzo was also survived by three brothers and a sister. It's unclear 158 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:22.840 whether Lorenzo was an intended target, but the loss is no less excruciating. 159 00:14:24.200 --> 00:14:28.080 Shoppers that didn't make it outside of the store hid anywhere they could reasonably be 160 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:33.919 concealed. One witness claimed she saw smoke exiting the firearm before seeing bodies dropped 161 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:39.960 to the ground. It was surreal seeing and hearing the chaos all around, 162 00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:46.720 yet the moments probably felt like slow motion and distant in a detached sort of 163 00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:50.960 way. The mind can do astonishing things when fight, flight or freeze takes 164 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:56.480 over. After the shooting in the break room, Jeff stalked the aisleways, 165 00:14:56.480 --> 00:15:01.279 shooting at random. He fired another ten shots outside of the break room and 166 00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:07.399 murdered fifty two year old Kelly Pyle born on August twenty ninth, nineteen seventy 167 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:13.440 and raised in Norfolk, Virginia. Kelly was recently returned to the Chesapeake area. 168 00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:16.000 She had been living in Kentucky when she found her old high school flame, 169 00:15:16.200 --> 00:15:20.840 Brian Baker, on Facebook. The couple rekindled their flame, so Kelly 170 00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:26.759 moved back to Virginia and they planned to marry in twenty twenty three. Kelly 171 00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:31.039 had two adult children and a granddaughter, and they were her reasons for living. 172 00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:35.320 Kelly was a giver and nurturer, and indeed she'd been caring for her 173 00:15:35.320 --> 00:15:39.440 elderly parents as their health began to decline, and she was even the caregiver 174 00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:45.399 for her brother after he suffered a stroke. Such a kind hearted and giving 175 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:50.480 individual is so rare these days, and her family's loss has likely been the 176 00:15:50.600 --> 00:15:56.559 most difficult to bear. Each of the six shooting victims were Walmart employees. 177 00:15:58.200 --> 00:16:02.080 Two were shot and killed in the break room, while three others were shot 178 00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:07.279 in unknown locations in the store. Those three were rushed to the hospital but 179 00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:11.000 later died as a result of their gunshot wounds. Five patients were rushed to 180 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:15.679 Centara Norfolk General Hospital, which is the area's closest Level one trauma center. 181 00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:21.679 Two of the patients later passed away, while two were listed in critical condition, 182 00:16:22.039 --> 00:16:26.120 and the fifth, twenty four year old Jalen Jones, was shot and 183 00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:30.240 was placed on a ventilator, but he was eventually listed as being in fair 184 00:16:30.279 --> 00:16:36.039 condition and ultimately was released. Five other shooting victims were rushed to the Chesapeake 185 00:16:36.039 --> 00:16:41.360 General Hospital, where one patient passed from their injuries and the other four mercifully 186 00:16:41.399 --> 00:16:45.919 were treated and released. The mental anguish and trauma that those survivors live with 187 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:51.120 each and every day. It's like a massive weight, and it is our 188 00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:56.679 deepest wish that they find some peace and a sense of normalcy again. One 189 00:16:56.799 --> 00:17:02.320 victim, presumed to be twenty two year old Chyanika Johnson, was found near 190 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:07.000 the front of the store where she had been murdered. Tanika was born on 191 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:11.480 November first, two thousand, and attended Western Branch High School. An absolutely 192 00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:18.799 stunning young woman, Tanika was alight in every room she entered, Benevolent and 193 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:23.839 dedicated to learning. Tanika dreamed of furthering her education and her family, who 194 00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:36.960 was her whole world and has truly been robbed of her presence. Jeff was 195 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:41.599 seemingly finished with his rampage after the last bullets were fired inside the store, 196 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:45.720 he returned to the employee break room and further desecrated the space by turning the 197 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:53.240 weapon on himself. Jeff died of a single gunshot wound. The shooting was 198 00:17:53.319 --> 00:18:00.359 over, but the damage was far from done. Because the Walmart super store 199 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:04.640 is so massive, it took police nearly forty minutes to thoroughly search the entire 200 00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:14.160 building. The police response was extremely quick. The shooting began at ten twelve 201 00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:19.039 pm and police were on the scene by ten fourteen. The Chesapeake Police, 202 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:25.359 Virginia Beach Police, and an FBI agent responded to the scene, and the 203 00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:30.519 ATF in Washington, DC later assisted in the investigation. The scene at Walmart 204 00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:34.319 was declared secure approximately an hour after the first nine one one call. A 205 00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:40.640 reunification center was established at the Chesapeake Conference Center for employees and their families and 206 00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:45.640 friends. By five am, about fifty people had gathered at the conference center. 207 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:49.880 The day following the shooting, November twenty third, police and ATF agents 208 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:56.680 search Jeff's house in the Ava Garden section of Crestwood, Virginia. The two 209 00:18:56.799 --> 00:19:02.359 story tan home stood in a relatively quiet at neighborhood. However, the front 210 00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:06.559 door of the home had been smashed in. Police found a box of ammunition, 211 00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:10.759 the box, the gun was purchased in, a receipt, and other 212 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:17.319 miscellaneous paperwork. It should be noted that in September twenty nineteen, after the 213 00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:22.279 Al Paso Walmart shooting, which we covered back in episode two, the store 214 00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:26.839 chose to discontinue sales of a certain type of ammunition, including two twenty three 215 00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:32.359 caliber and five point five six caliber ammo, handgun ammunition, and short barrel 216 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:37.759 rifle ammo. In the mid nineties, Walmart ceased selling handguns in every state 217 00:19:37.079 --> 00:19:42.839 except Alaska, which ceased handgun sales in twenty nineteen. Several hunters in rural 218 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:48.759 areas depend on local Walmart stores for purchasing hunting rifles and ammunition, and as 219 00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:52.519 such, sales have not discontinued in most areas, though some Walmart locations do 220 00:19:52.640 --> 00:20:12.839 not sell any types of firearms. Jeff was born on May first, nineteen 221 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:18.759 ninety one, and was a lifelong resident of Chesapeake. He was transient for 222 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:22.640 many years, moving to cities in Virginia, including Norfolk, Suffolk, and 223 00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:25.680 Virginia Beach, as well as Queens, New York, and San Angelo, 224 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:30.480 Texas. He was employed with the Walmart superstore since twenty ten and had as 225 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:36.440 long of standing with the company as many of his murdered co workers. Employees 226 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:40.240 say that Jeff was short with them and was known to be antagonistic. He 227 00:20:40.359 --> 00:20:44.640 frequently made comments to co workers that work was draining him and complained about not 228 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:48.480 having a social life. It wasn't a complete fabrication. Jeff had no social 229 00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:53.519 media presence or online activity, which so many people his age do. He 230 00:20:53.559 --> 00:20:57.920 didn't get on with most anyone he worked with, although at least one employee 231 00:20:57.920 --> 00:21:03.559 reported that Jeff made people laugh and enjoyed dancing. Jeff was honest about his 232 00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:07.599 anger issues, and it seemed to carry over into his work life consistently. 233 00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:12.400 He wrote employees up for minuscule reasons and didn't seem to really like people, 234 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:18.200 which makes it questionable as to how he maintained job working closely with others and 235 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:25.640 the public for so long. In twenty nineteen, Jeff bought his three bedroom 236 00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:30.079 home, and neighbors reported that Jeff kept quiet to himself and he rarely interacted 237 00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:34.480 with anyone in the neighborhood. He was mostly only noticed if he was mowing 238 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:40.880 the lawn. Despite his quick temper, Jeff had no criminal record or apparent 239 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:45.039 arrests. While employees claimed that they believed Jeff was a little paranoid, they 240 00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:49.079 didn't think he was capable of violence, certainly not the kind he unleashed on 241 00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:55.480 November twenty second. Jeff believed the government was watching him, so he placed 242 00:21:55.519 --> 00:21:59.559 tape over the camera on his phone. He was almost fearful of being caught 243 00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:03.640 on camp or noticed in some major way. One employee described a time that 244 00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:07.079 she was making a video of another coworker, and while she was recording, 245 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:11.400 Jeff was captured in the peripheral of the lens and he immediately jumped out of 246 00:22:11.400 --> 00:22:17.680 the way. Though he appeared on the surface to be an attentive, good 247 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:22.200 worker, Jeff had been written up at least twice by his supervisors, though 248 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:26.000 the reasons for the write ups aren't known. Jeff was quick to gossip about 249 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:30.400 employees to other employees, which almost always leads to drama of some sort, 250 00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:37.400 drama that should never be perpetrated by a supervising employee. One employee that was 251 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:41.119 interviewed later indicated that employees often made fun of Jeff, picking on his hair 252 00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:45.960 or clothing. They commented on his lack of social life and how he only 253 00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:52.880 seemed to work and play video games. One employee expressed concern that Jeff never 254 00:22:52.920 --> 00:22:56.000 appeared to have a network or support system from his family or close friends, 255 00:22:56.400 --> 00:23:02.759 which seems true considering he confided in employees that he wasn't even close to that 256 00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:08.319 he had a bad temper, He never talked about or to any family while 257 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:11.880 working, and he never talked about what he did over the weekend or made 258 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:18.039 that type of small talk that long time coworkers often do. Concerningly, one 259 00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:22.400 employee claimed that Jeff previously stated that if he were to ever be fired, 260 00:23:22.680 --> 00:23:27.039 he would come back and kill people. It was the first, or perhaps 261 00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:32.799 the brightest, red flag that Jeff displayed. While he didn't leave many signs 262 00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:37.759 of obviously planning this shooting for a long time, Jeff had clearly given it 263 00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:42.039 some thought, for there was a manifesto located on his cell phone which detailed 264 00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:48.279 harassment he felt at work and how he believed that management was planning to terminate 265 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:53.799 his employment. Names in the manifesto have been redacted by the investigating agency and 266 00:23:55.000 --> 00:24:03.960 states titled note, Sorry God, I've failed you. This was not your 267 00:24:03.960 --> 00:24:07.400 fault, but my own. I failed to listen to the groans of the 268 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:12.319 Holy Spirit, which made me a poor representation of you. I was harassed 269 00:24:12.359 --> 00:24:18.960 by idiots with low intelligence and a lack of wisdom. I remained strong through 270 00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:25.039 most of the torment, but my dignity was completely taken away beyond repair by 271 00:24:25.079 --> 00:24:30.640 my phone getting hacked. I can't say that they were the only ones that 272 00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:36.200 lacked intelligence and wisdom. I was just as guilty and failed my management team 273 00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:41.160 and everyone that ever loved me by convincing them that I was normal, and 274 00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:47.119 the associates orchestrated it. They laughed and made subtle code speeches which I eventually 275 00:24:47.160 --> 00:24:52.039 figured out. I thought was my friend, but he betrayed me. Betrayal 276 00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:57.759 is one of the worst feelings next to regret. They laughed at me and 277 00:24:57.839 --> 00:25:03.839 said that I was Jeffrey Dahmer. I would have never killed anyone that entered 278 00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:07.960 my home. A few months back, I had overheard talking to me and 279 00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:11.640 he told me that he had been trying to get rid of me since day 280 00:25:11.640 --> 00:25:18.119 one. After I heard that, I lashed out. The associates gave me 281 00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:23.880 evil twisted grins, mocked me, and celebrated my downfall. The last day, 282 00:25:26.119 --> 00:25:30.200 That's why they suffered the same fate as me. From maintenance was a 283 00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:36.240 manting with the Holy Spirit, which I could feel. People thought that she 284 00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:41.119 was crazy for walking out, but unlike me, she actually listened to the 285 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:48.839 Holy Spirit like new They were antagonizing me, so one day she approached me 286 00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:53.079 and personnel and apologized to me. On her last day, she looked me 287 00:25:53.079 --> 00:26:00.240 in the eyes, terrified by a demonic aura. My true intent was never 288 00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:03.960 to murder anyone, believe it or not, I was actually one of the 289 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:07.759 most loving people in the world if you would get to know me. I 290 00:26:07.880 --> 00:26:11.599 just wanted a wife that was equally yoked as I and obsessed over the thought. 291 00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:18.119 However, I didn't deserve a wife. I hope that people will learn 292 00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:22.079 from everyone's mistakes and truly love God and not the material possessions of the world. 293 00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:26.880 My only wish would have been to start over from scratch and that my 294 00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:32.960 parents would have paid closer attention to my social deficits. Sorry everyone, but 295 00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:36.720 I did not play in this. I promised things just fell in place like 296 00:26:36.880 --> 00:26:40.960 guy was led by Satan. I have written songs in the past, though 297 00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:45.039 I only did it when I realized that my phone was hacked and was giving 298 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:48.960 the worst feeling imaginable. I wish that I could have saved everyone from myself. 299 00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:55.680 I will spare because I have a special place for her in my heart 300 00:26:56.319 --> 00:27:03.240 because my mother died from cancer. Please let everyone know that bitter seed apricots 301 00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:08.160 are the cure for cancer and not the doctor. My God forgive me for 302 00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:18.720 what I do. Several Walmart employees filed lawsuits against the company, stating that 303 00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:22.039 they warned management about the shooter and issues that they were having, including one 304 00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:26.839 who claimed to have filed a complaint with supervisors about the shooter, who was 305 00:27:26.880 --> 00:27:30.880 the employee's direct supervisor. The employee said that the shooter was harassing him and 306 00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:36.799 displayed intimidating behaviors. The employee said that the shooter told him quote, I 307 00:27:36.839 --> 00:27:40.000 don't care how big you are. I have something to take care of that. 308 00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:47.279 Walmart allegedly failed to investigate or take action. Another employee filed suit saying 309 00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:51.519 that her mom reported the shooter to upper management because her daughter was scared of 310 00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:59.559 the shooter. Again, no action was taken. Walmart reopened on April nineteenth, 311 00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:03.599 twenty twenty three, or about five months post shooting. The store underwent 312 00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:08.720 substantial changes in design, and an outdoor memorial was erected to honor the victims 313 00:28:08.759 --> 00:28:15.960 and hopefully provide a place of comfort rather than hurt and pain. The area 314 00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:21.640 will include local foliage and will include six sitting structures, one for each shooting 315 00:28:21.680 --> 00:28:26.039 victim. The store has been described as the quote store of the future and 316 00:28:26.119 --> 00:28:30.640 will have interactive features as well as displays meant to engage customers and create a 317 00:28:30.680 --> 00:28:37.640 more immersive shopping experience. We all have the unicability to help prevent such a 318 00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:42.400 catastrophic event from happening. If we keep our eyes and ears open and never 319 00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:49.000 hesitate to report when something or someone just doesn't seem right. With the delicate 320 00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:53.279 balance of mental health reform, education, active shooter training, and common sense 321 00:28:53.319 --> 00:28:57.640 gun laws, we may one day realize the dream, the dream that there 322 00:28:57.680 --> 00:29:03.559 will be no more active shooting. We pray that love will prevail over hate. 323 00:29:03.559 --> 00:29:10.680 Too many have died, we should say to ourselves, not one more. 324 00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:15.240 In the meantime, we urge our listeners to stay aware of your surroundings 325 00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:21.279 and keep in touch with your loved ones. If you see something, say 326 00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:34.119 something, you never know how many lives you'll be saving. Thank you for 327 00:29:34.200 --> 00:29:40.960 listening to today's episode of Active Shooter the Podcast. Remember if you see something, 328 00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:45.960 say something, there's no telling how many lives you may be saving. 329 00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:49.559 A big thank you to Darren Curtis, who composed some of the songs on 330 00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:56.480 our show. You can find him online at www dot Darren Curtis music dot 331 00:29:56.519 --> 00:30:00.960 com. Make sure to check us out on social media. You can find 332 00:30:02.039 --> 00:30:07.240 us on Facebook at Active Shooter the Podcast and on Twitter at podcast Active. 333 00:30:08.160 --> 00:30:11.880 Thank you and be safe.