A 77-year-old Walmart customer in Virginia died after an altercation that reportedly began with a dispute over a shopping cart and later involved the parents of a teenage store employee.

The victim, Bert Atienza, died at a hospital on June 8, 2026, one day after the incident at a Walmart store in Norfolk, Virginia. Medical officials determined that he died from blunt head trauma and classified the death as a homicide.

Dispute Began During a Shopping Trip
According to Atienza’s widow, Josephine, the couple had gone grocery shopping after attending church when a 17-year-old Walmart employee reportedly came quickly through an aisle and nearly struck her with a shopping cart.

Josephine told WTKR that her husband confronted the teenager and asked for an apology. The two reportedly exchanged words before the couple continued shopping.

The teenager allegedly threw a can toward the couple before contacting her parents, according to Josephine’s account reported by WTKR and the New York Post.

Parents Later Approached the Customer
Authorities allege that the teenager’s parents, identified as 44-year-old Travis White and 42-year-old Erika Mitchell, later located Atienza inside the store.

Surveillance footage reportedly captured the subsequent confrontation. According to reports, Atienza was approached by the two adults and an altercation followed, leaving him seriously injured.

Emergency responders took Atienza to a hospital, where he died the following day. The medical examiner determined that his death resulted from blunt head trauma.

Adult Suspects Face Murder Charges
White and Mitchell were initially charged with offenses including malicious wounding and conspiracy. The charges were later upgraded to second-degree murder, according to court records cited by the New York Post.

Both adults are being held without bond.

Their attorney, James Broccoletti, has disputed the prosecution’s characterization of the incident. He told WTKR that the confrontation was not planned and argued that his clients went to the store after receiving a call from their daughter. The attorney maintains that the evidence does not establish that they intended to cause a death.

The charges are allegations, and the defendants are entitled to due process as the case moves through court.

Teen Employee Also Faces Charges
The 17-year-old employee involved in the original dispute has also been charged, according to reports.

Because she is a minor, authorities have not publicly released her name. She reportedly faces charges including assault and battery, aggravated malicious wounding and conspiracy to commit a felony. She is being held at a juvenile detention facility.

Walmart has confirmed that the teenager no longer works for the company and that the retailer is cooperating with investigators.

Widow Remembers Her Husband
Josephine and Bert Atienza had been married for 42 years.

Speaking about her husband’s final moments, Josephine recalled that he was initially conscious after the confrontation but later lost consciousness before medical help arrived.

She has described the loss as devastating and said the couple had planned to spend their later years together, including returning to the Philippines to be closer to family.

The case remains under the legal process in Norfolk, with the adult defendants facing second-degree murder charges and the teenage defendant facing separate charges related to the incident.

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