Fake bombs placed on store employees

HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) - A violent scene unfolded at a Hampton grocery store Friday morning.

Just before 7:30 a.m., police were called to the Food Lion in the Newmarket Square shopping center off Mercury Boulevard.

According to Hampton Police Cpl. Jason Price, two suspects entered the store and told employees it was a robbery. They identified themselves as FBI agents, according to Cpl. Price.

There were two employees, a food vendor and six customers in the store at the time.

The suspects placed what they described as "bombs" on the employees, and then proceeded through the business. ( Click here to watch the surveillance video .)

The suspects encountered the beer vendor, who did not work for Food Lion, and shot the vendor in the leg, Price said.

"He's brave," said Donna White. "He's a very brave man.

Donna knows better than anyone, the injured vendor is her husband, Kelvin White. 

The day started out like any other. Her husband went off to work, but it wasn't long before Donna's phone started ringing.

"Kelvin called me and said he was shot," Donna said.

Police said when Kelvin saw that one of the strangers had a gun he used a pocket knife he carries for work to stab one of the suspects. Donna said it sounds like Kelvin.

"He's that kind of person," White said. "If he sees that they are in danger he will do what he can to help."

After stabbing the suspect, Kelvin was shot in the leg.

"My main question to him was why didn't you hide?," Donna recalled. "He saw the fear on the lady's face. He automatically took action."

The two robbery suspects ran off just before Donna could get to the scene.

"When I did arrive all I saw was cops everywhere, an ambulance and the fire department, so it was really a scary experience," Donna explained.

White's next stop was to the hospital with the couple's two sons. Her husband was rushed into surgery and is now recovering. Everyone who was in that Food Lion, including the White family knows how lucky they were that Kelvin was there.

"You're proud, but then you're scared," White added. "I know even after this. He'll do it again. If he feels like a person is in danger he will do it again."

The suspects were last seen fleeing the rear of the building towards Newmarket Drive. Cpl. Price said the suspects were wearing all black. One was carrying a clipboard and was wearing a shirt with 'FBI" written on the front.

The Newport News Fire Department Bomb Squad responded to the scene, and determined the device was not a bomb, but a makeshift fake device.

A K-9 also responded to get tracks of the suspects.

Cpl. Price said this is a joint investigation with the FBI.

SAC Alex J. Turner of the Norfolk FBI made the following statement regarding the Food Lion incident:

“It is a serious federal crime to impersonate an FBI Agent. Impersonation not only undermines public trust, but it can be used to physically or financially harm innocent members of the public. An FBI Special Agent carries both an official credential and a badge, and an Agent will display them when conducting official business. If a member of the public remains concerned about the true identity of someone purporting to be an FBI Agent, consider independently contacting the published number of a local office of the FBI for further assistance. In this area, the public may call 757-455-0100.”

Newport News Public Schools spokesperson Michelle Price said that there are no schools in Newport News on lockdown at this point, but the schools are going to remain diligent.

Anyone with information that will assist police is asked to call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.

This is a developing story. Stay with WAVY News 10 on air and online for updates.