A Sunday Grocery Trip Turns Tragic
Officers responded to a reported assault at a Norfolk, Virginia, Walmart on June 7 at about 3:20 p.m., according to the report. They found 77-year-old Bert Atienza motionless at the scene. He died the following day. Josephine Atienza told WTKR that she and Bert had stopped at Walmart after church to buy groceries. The couple had been married for 42 years. What began as a shopping trip ended with a reported fatal assault, and the criminal allegations now rest with investigators, prosecutors, and the courts. The family’s account is painful, and the charges must still be resolved through the legal process.
What the Surveillance Video Shows
Surveillance footage first obtained by WTKR and reported this week shows Atienza walking through a store aisle in a T-shirt with a shopping cart. Two people then approach. One takes the cart and slams him against a shelf. The other hits and kicks him as he falls to the floor. The pair then walks away while Josephine kneels beside her husband and holds him. He does not move. The footage shows the physical sequence described in the report, but questions of identity, intent, and criminal responsibility belong to the court.
Josephine Describes the Events Before the Attack
Josephine told WTKR that a 17-year-old Walmart employee nearly hit her with a cart and refused to apologize. Bert confronted the employee about nearly striking his wife with a heavy cart. According to Josephine, the employee argued with him and later threw a can toward the couple as they walked away; it missed. She said the employee’s parents then arrived and crowded Bert. One adult hit him in the face, causing him to fall. Josephine said she begged them to stop and explained that Bert had heart problems, but the assault continued. She recalled that Bert asked for help before losing consciousness, while she told him to stay down because his mouth was bleeding and an ambulance was coming.
Two Adults Face Murder Charges
Court records obtained by WTKR show that Erika Mitchell, 42, and Travis White, 44, face charges of second-degree murder. Both are being held without bond. WTKR also reported that the 17-year-old employee faces charges of assault and battery, aggravated malicious wounding, and conspiracy to commit a felony. Those are allegations at this stage, not convictions. The charges outline a serious case involving multiple defendants, while the courts will determine what can be proven.
Walmart Says the Employee No Longer Works There
Walmart told WTKR that the employee no longer works for the company and that it will continue working with law enforcement. A representative gave no further comment about the reported confrontation, the employee’s charges, or the adults accused in the attack. The statement addresses Walmart’s employment decision and cooperation with authorities, while leaving the disputed events to the criminal case. No additional Walmart details were included in the report.
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