Elderly Virginia Man Dies After Alleged Assault Inside Norfolk Walmart

A 77‑year‑old Virginia man died after he was allegedly attacked inside a Norfolk Walmart by the parents of a teenage employee he had confronted moments earlier, authorities said.

Bert Atienza suffered fatal blunt‑force head trauma in the June 7 incident and died the following day, according to medical officials, who ruled his death a homicide. The assault was captured on store surveillance video.

Police were called to the Walmart at about 3:20 p.m. after reports of an assault. Atienza’s wife, Josephine, told investigators the confrontation began when a 17‑year‑old employee pushed a shopping cart down an aisle and nearly struck her. Atienza exchanged words with the teen, who allegedly threw a can toward the couple as they walked away.

The employee then called her parents, Travis White, 44, and Erika Mitchell, 42, who arrived at the store minutes later and began searching for the couple, according to police and court documents. Surveillance footage appears to show Atienza looking at items on a shelf when White and Mitchell approached him from behind and attacked him while their daughter watched.

Atienza was shoved, grabbed and punched, then pushed into a shelving unit before falling to the floor. One of the suspects allegedly kicked him as bystanders moved away. Josephine Atienza said her husband briefly spoke after the assault but quickly lost consciousness.

He was taken to a hospital, where he died the next day.

White and Mitchell were arrested several days later and are being held without bond at the Norfolk jail. Their daughter has been charged with assault and battery, aggravated malicious wounding, and conspiracy to commit a felony. She is being held at the Norfolk juvenile detention center, and her name has not been released because she is a minor.