The widow of a 77-year-old Filipino-American man has spoken about the devastating attack inside a Virginia Walmart that claimed her husband’s life.
Bert Atienza died one day after he was suddenly assaulted at the store on June 7.
Erika Mitchell, 42, and Travis White, 44, have been charged with second-degree murder, according to court records reviewed by News 3.
Both suspects are being held without bond.
A 17-year-old Walmart employee has also been charged with assault and battery, aggravated malicious wounding and conspiracy to commit a felony, the outlet reported.
Josephine Atienza, Bert’s wife of 42 years, described the horrifying incident in an interview with News 3.
Josephine said she and Bert had gone grocery shopping at the Walmart on North Military Highway after attending church that Sunday.
According to Josephine, Bert confronted a 17-year-old Walmart employee after the worker nearly struck her with a shopping cart and failed to apologize.
Josephine Atienza has spoken publicly for the first time about the devastating death of her 77-year-old husband, Bert
Bert Atienza was assaulted at a Virginia Walmart in June and died in hospital from his injuries the following day
Erika Mitchell, 42, and Travis White, 44, have been charged with second-degree murder, according to court documents reviewed by News 3
“You almost hit my wife with your heavy cart, and you did not even say excuse me or apologize to her,” Josephine recalled Bert saying.
She said more words were exchanged before the employee threw a can toward them as they walked away.
A few minutes later, Josephine said, the employee’s parents arrived at the Walmart and confronted Bert.
“They crowded my husband, one of the adults hit him in the face. He fell down on the floor. I was terrified. I don’t know what’s going on,” Josephine said.
Surveillance footage captured the moments that preceded Bert’s death.
In the video, the 77-year-old can be seen wearing a red T-shirt and pushing a shopping cart through a supermarket aisle.
Two people then appear in the footage. One removes Bert’s cart and forcefully pushes him into a shelf, while another person appears to hit and kick him as he falls to the floor.
The two people walk away as Josephine kneels beside her motionless husband and holds him on the floor.
Walmart told News 3 that the 17-year-old employee at the center of the tragic incident no longer works at the store
Josephine and Bert were married for 42 years. They dreamed of retiring in the Philippines where they first met
‘While he’s on the floor, they’re still kicking him and I told them stop. My husband has heart problems,’ Josephine told News 3.
She said she held her husband in her arms while other customers offered help.
‘My husband was still able to speak, he said: “help me, get up,” but I told him no you’re bleeding. Your mouth is bleeding. Ambulance is coming,’ Josephine said.
‘I look at him again. He has no more consciousness.’
Bert was rushed to the hospital but died from his injuries the next day.
The Medical Examiner’s Office said the cause of death was blunt head trauma and manner of death was homicide.
In a statement to News 3, Attorney James Broccoletti, who represents White, said the situation was not premeditated.
‘They did not go there, intending for any of this to happen. It was an emotional situation. Their daughter called them. She was distraught,’ he said.
‘They went, as any parent would do, to try to make sure that their daughter was safe and then the situation kind of erupted. It was spontaneous almost.
‘We think that the evidence establishes at best an assault because they punched the gentleman, there is some evidence my client may have kicked him, but that’s simple assault, that’s a misdemeanor.
‘There is nothing that goes further than that, that indicates that there was any chance or likelihood or probability that this man would die as a result of this.’
Josephine and Bert met decades ago when she was a bank teller and he was an accountant in the Philippines. According to the widow, they had planned to retire there together.
‘We had many plans in our senior years. We were planning to go home to the Philippines to retire and to be with his family, but now shattered,’ Josephine said.
‘I lost a husband of 42 years, and my son lost a father. As each day passes by, I feel the pain of loneliness about being by myself now. There is an anger and bitterness in me. If only I could turn back time.’
Walmart told News 3 the employee is no longer working for the company and that they will continue to work with law enforcement on the matter.
Broccoletti declined to comment for this article because the case is still ‘pending.’
