00:00Shocking, that's how people are describing the events that unfolded inside of a Walmart on North Military Highway back on
00:05June 7th that left 77-year-old Bert Atienza dead.
00:09Parents of a 17-year-old Walmart employer accused of going to the store minutes after getting a call from
00:14their daughter and attacking the elderly man.
00:16He died the next day in the hospital of blunt head trauma, according to the medical examiner's office.
00:21Bert Atienza's wife said Bert and the teenager apparently got into an argument when he confronted her for allegedly pushing
00:28her cart too close to his wife while shopping.
00:31The situation escalated and attorney representing Bert's widow spoke to News 3.
00:35And there's no chance for any conversation. I mean, they just lay into him. So there's no more words exchanged.
00:42And then he falls to the floor after he struck several times.
00:45The witnesses have said that he struck his head very hard on the floor and it was a very loud,
00:52sickening crack.
00:53The parents, Erica Mitchell and Travis Whiter, charged with second-degree murder. The teen has been charged with involuntary manslaughter.
00:59Nobody planned to go over there and to kill this man. No one had that intent in their heart and
01:09in their mind at the time that they went over there.
01:11It was an instantaneous situation that occurred and a tragic and incredibly unfortunate situation that occurred.
01:20Our coverage of the case went viral and has gained international attention with thousands of comments and people are expressing
01:25anger over what's happened.
01:27Defense attorney James Broccoletti represents White. He said his office has received threats from people around the country from merely
01:33doing his job as a lawyer.
01:34I received a significant amount of hate email, threatening emails, threatening voicemails that are very disturbing.
01:44People are not understanding what the role of a lawyer is and what the fundamental principles of the United States
01:52Constitution are.
01:53Were you surprised by the amount of threatening and hateful messages you guys have gotten?
01:58Shocked. Shocked. It's the last thing in the world I ever expected.
02:03Meanwhile, the victim's lawyer says they don't believe enough was done to help the Atienza's when all of this happened
02:09and say they're planning on moving forward with several lawsuits.
02:12This is a coordinated assault by an employee inside of a store that involves what looks to be like the
02:21failure of the security as well.
02:24Previously, Walmart told me the employee is no longer working for the company, that Walmart will continue to work with
02:30law enforcement and that they have no further comment regarding the matter.
02:34As each day passed by, I feel the pain of loneliness being by myself now.
02:41There is anger and bitterness in me. If only I could turn back time.
02:47In Norfolk, Margaret Cavanaugh, News 3.
