Thread: Va. shooting-UPDATE-8 DEAD-Perp Surrenders-EXPLOSIVES

Multiple fatalities in Va. shooting

Posted 18m ago

APPOMATTOX, Va. (AP) — Virginia State Police are reporting multiple fatalities and injuries involving a lone gunman in central Virginia.

State police spokeswoman Corinne Geller says more than 100 law enforcement officials have surrounded the suspected gunman in a wooded area just outside of Appomattox. She could not say how many had been killed or injured.

Police say the violence began shortly after noon Tuesday when an injured man was found on a rural stretch of road.

Police say when officers responded, someone fired at them. A state police helicopter had to land with a ruptured fuel tank. The officers were not injured.

It is not known what prompted the shootings.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/201 ... ting_N.htm

Probably the usual of trying to protect the drug stash.

"Numerous" dead and injured in Appomattox shootings

Virginia State Police said there have been "numerous fatalities and injuries" in a shooting spree in Appomattox County that also saw a state police search helicopter forced to land after being hit by shots from the ground, state police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said.

She would not be more specific about the tally and said the motive was not yet known. Appomattox is about midway between Richmond and Roanoke.

A male gunman is believed to be cornered in woods near Route 703, also called Snapps Mill Road, and Route 613, also called Police Tower Road, where more than 100 state and local officers are continuing a search. A second State Police helicopter also is searching, Geller said.

Appomattox County Sheriff's deputies received a call about at noon Tuesday for a man needing medical assistance found in the middle of Snapps Mills Road.

The first state police helicopter sprung a fuel leak after being hit by gunfire and landed at Lynchburg Regional Airport, Geller said.

State police said they would provide another update at about 7 p.m.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/crime- ... id=topnews

Appomattox is about 100 miles southwest of Richmond. It is best known as the place where Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union Gen. Ulyssess S. Grant to end the Civil War.

Nothing on CNN or FOX just yet. This must be a very fresh story. Please keep us posted.

If the perpetrator is white the usual suspects will sweep in quickly to claim that white Christians are potential terrorists.

If the suspect is non white or an illegal alien the the story will be hushed up quickly.

That is the unfortunate bias we have documented in the media many times over.

W

Police source: 8 people killed in Va. shooting

Slayings believed to involve a lone gunman just outside Appomattox

updated 16 minutes ago

APPOMATTOX, Va. - Eight people were killed in shootings Tuesday in central Virginia, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press.

The official asked for anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak about the investigation.

A lone shooter was responsible for the multiple deaths and injuries and more than 100 law enforcement officials had him surrounded in woods where they believe he is hiding, state police said.

A spokeswoman could not say how many were dead or injured in the shootings or what sparked the violence.

The gunman also fired at a sheriff's deputy and a state police helicopter, which had to land with a ruptured fuel tank after one or more rounds struck it, the spokeswoman, Corrine Geller, said. No police were injured.

"We believe we have the male suspect confined in a wooded area," Geller said.

The violence began shortly after noon when an injured man was found on a rural stretch of road. A deputy who went to investigate fled after he heard gunshots, Geller said.

"When the deputy arrived on the scene, that's when he heard several shots," State Police Sgt. Thomas Molnar said.

School locked down
He said there were "several fatalities and one injury." Police were still trying to determine the suspect's relationship with the victims.

Residents near the shooting scene were told to remain inside with their doors locked and a small Christian school was locked down until state police could escort about 60 children from the building.

"We're just being cautious, keeping our doors locked, not going outside," said Bethel Hawkins, who lives about 2 miles (3 kilometers) up the road from where the shootings occurred. "Our church service is supposed to be tonight, but we talked with our pastor and told him we're not coming out. We're not going out in the dark not knowing what's out there. But we trust in the Lord to take care of us."

Appomattox is in a county of about 15,000 approximately 100 miles (160 kilometers) southwest of Richmond. It is best known as the place where Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in 1865 to end the Civil War.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34943571/ns ... nd_courts/

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

Nothing on CNN or FOX just yet. This must be a very fresh story. Please keep us posted.

W

It was on the USA TODAY site at 3:30 p.m.
MSNBC has it on their site now.

"All the victims were adults and both men and women were killed, state police Sgt. Thomas Molnar said.
Three of the bodies were found inside the home, and four just outside it, Molnar said."

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010 ... -virginia/

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

"All the victims were adults and both men and women were killed, state police Sgt. Thomas Molnar said.
Three of the bodies were found inside the home, and four just outside it, Molnar said."

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010 ... -virginia/

All from one house. Do they know if this was a family? Or was it some kind of hang out house? There were eight adults, but no kids. It seems it might be some kind of party house or something....that many adults...and no kids around. Or maybe there were kids, but they were not killed.

Police: Lone shooter kills 8 in central Virginia

By LARRY O'DELL, Associated Press Writer.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 8:14 p.m.

APPOMATTOX, Va. — Police were looking for a lone shooter who they said killed eight people Tuesday in central Virginia, then fled in the woods, violently resisting efforts to take him in and even nearly shooting down a police helicopter as it hovered over the area trying to flush him out.

State police said officers had the suspect, Christopher Speight, 39, circled in the woods late Tuesday near the home where seven of the bodies were found and they believed he was still alive. An eighth victim was found barely alive on the side of the road - which led to police being called - and died on the way to the hospital.

All the victims were adults and both men and women were killed, state police Sgt. Thomas Molnar said. Three of the bodies were found inside the home, and four just outside it, Molnar said.

Police refused to speculate on a motive and would not say what type of weapon was used. Molnar also gave no background on the suspect.

The drama paralyzed the rural area as police swarmed forests trying to catch the suspect who fired at a state police helicopter, forcing it to land with a ruptured fuel tank, police said. No police were injured after one or more rounds struck the helicopter.

Canine units and a National Guard helicopter with thermal imaging equipment were being used to search the woods.

"They are searching the area and will continue until the suspect is apprehended," Molnar said.

The violence began shortly after noon when the injured man was found on a rural stretch of road. A deputy who went to investigate fled after he heard gunshots, police spokeswoman Corrine Geller said.

"When the deputy arrived on the scene, that's when he heard several shots," Molnar said.

Police did not release the victims' names or the suspect's possible relationship to them.

Authorities told nearby residents to stay inside and a small Christian school was locked down until state police could escort about 60 children from the building.

Resident Bethel Hawkins said police warned families to lock their doors in an area with many senior citizens.

"We're just being cautious, keeping our doors locked, not going outside," said Hawkins, who lives about 2 miles up the road from where the shootings occurred. "Our church service is supposed to be tonight, but we talked with our pastor and told him we're not coming out. We're not going out in the dark not knowing what's out there. But we trust in the Lord to take care of us."

Appomattox is in a county of about 15,000 approximately 100 miles southwest of Richmond. It is best known as the place where Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant to end the Civil War.

---

Associated Press writers Bob Lewis in Richmond and John Raby in Charleston, W. Va., contributed to this report.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010 ... -virginia/

"The suspect, Christopher Speight, 39," White male.
Picture at

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010 ... shootings/