The El Paso, Texas, Walmart where 22 people were killed and dozens injured is set to open for the first time since last years mass shooting.
The Texas store has been closed since the Aug. 3 shooting while the interior was gutted and renovated, according to USA Today. Manager Robert Evans said he will be on the roof Thursday morning to raise the American flag, which has flown at half-staff since the slaughter.
Evans, 44, said raising the flag will “symbolize that we are open and ready for business and ready to welcome and embrace our customers as they walk through the door.”
“This is something that changes your life; this is not going to define our lives. But it did change some of the things emotionally,” Evans said.
Evans, like many of the employees at the Walmart, has worked at the store for years. He has been with the company for more than two decades and been manager of the El Paso store for seven years.
He said that although the shooting is likely still on their minds, employees are ready to report back to work.
“I would say they (employees) have pretty much recovered,” Evans said. “I’m sure some doubt and things of that nature are still in their minds. But they are eager and ready for the store to open.”
“It’s an important part of our associates’ [employees’] lives, an important part of our community and their lives. We’re a retail business here to serve a large community of El Pasoans. I feel reopening the store is beneficial to both parties — both our associates and our customers,” he added.
The shooting was allegedly carried out by a man targeting immigrants and people of Hispanic descent as they shopped at the store. The shooter reportedly wrote an anti-immigrant manifesto before the deadly rampage. Twenty people died at the scene, and two died later from injuries sustained during the attack.
