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

I have read one account that says that Speight killed his wife and sons after a dispute. But I have been unable to verify it with collaborating articles.

FOX

Shooter Kills 8 in Virginia, Cops Circle Suspect

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

APPOMATTOX, Va. — Police with dogs and heat-sensing equipment hunted for a man they say shot eight people to death Tuesday and then nearly took down a police helicopter that was trying to flush him out of the woods near this central Virginia town.

State police said officers had the suspect, Christopher Speight, 39, of Appomattax, 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.

Speight's last listed address was along the block where the shootings occurred, but Molnar did not know if the suspect was still living there. He would not say if all the victims were shot at the home where most of the bodies were found. He also would not say whether the shootings happened at Speight's address or another house.

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.

A National Guard helicopter with thermal imaging equipment was 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.

A Google map search shows the area of the shootings was thick with trees, sometimes giving way to large clearings. Buildings were spread out. Molnar said police believe Speight was still within the perimeter they had set up to surround him, but would not say how large an area they were searching. Police said they are also looking for a car and a pickup truck that belong to Speight.

Speight's home was included in online real estate listings posted last year. They say the wooden home has three bedrooms and three bathrooms and sits on 34 acres. One online listing said homes in the area sell for about $189,000.

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.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,583389,00.html

CNN

Manhunt on in killings of 8 in Virginia

January 20, 2010 1:05 a.m. EST

(CNN) -- Police searched into the early hours of Wednesday for a 39-year-old gunman wanted in the deaths of eight people in rural central Virginia.

"More than 100 deputies, officers and state troopers will continue working through the night to locate and apprehend the armed subject," said a statement from Virginia State Police.

Seven of the victims were killed in and around a home in Appomattox, about 75 miles southwest of Richmond, and the eighth was found in the middle of a road, according to Tom Molinar of the State Police. Males and females were killed, but authorities did not provide their ages.

A motive for the shootings was not immediately known.

The accused gunman was identified as Christopher Speight. Authorities think he was acting alone, Molinar said.

"He is considered armed and dangerous," he added.

Police established a perimeter around Appomattox, Molinar said, and think Speight remains within their search area. The manhunt includes canine units and helicopters.

Local coverage from CNN affiliate WTVR

"During the course of the search Tuesday afternoon, a State Police helicopter was shot by the suspect," the State Police statement said. "The helicopter was struck at least four times" and "was able to make an emergency landing in a field near the scene."

Authorities are searching for two vehicles belonging to Speight -- a green 1996 Ford F-150 pickup and a tan 1997 Ford Escort. Anyone with information is asked to contact authorities.

The case began unfolding with a 911 call that reported a man lying in the middle of Route 703.

"The male subject was transported by Med-Flight State Police helicopter to Lynchburg General Hospital, where the man later died," State Police said.

On arrival, police heard gunshots in the area. A search turned up seven bodies nearby.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/01/19/vir ... index.html

This is all over the MSM now.

Man surrenders after eight slain in Virginia

Updated 3h 47m ago

APPOMATTOX, Va. (AP) — Police early Wednesday arrested without incident a man who they said shot and killed eight people and fired on a state police helicopter that was searching for him, rupturing its fuel tank.
Sgt. Thomas Molnar said Christopher Speight (Spite), 39, approached officers at the crime scene at about 7:10 a.m. Wednesday and turned himself in.

Molnar says Speight was being taken to an undisclosed location to be interviewed. Charges are pending.

The drama began to unfold around noon Tuesday when an eighth victim was spotted barely alive along the side of the road. A deputy who answered the emergency call heard more gunshots and soon the area just about 3 miles from the state police district headquarters was filled with law enforcement from all over, with more than 100 responding. The injured man died on the way to the hospital, said state police Sgt. Thomas Molnar.

Earlier, as teams swarmed trying to catch the gunman, he fired at the helicopter trying to flush him out, police said. One or more rounds struck the helicopter, forcing it down, but no police were injured.

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, saying not much was known about him. Speight's last known address was along the block lined with modest ranch and Cape Cod-style homes where the shootings occurred, but Molnar did not know if the suspect was still living there.

Police did not release the victims' names or the suspect's possible relationship to them. All the victims were adults and both men and women were killed, Molnar said.

He would not say if all the victims were shot at the home where most of the bodies were found. He also would not say whether the shootings happened at Speight's address or another house.

A Google map search shows the area of the shootings was thick with trees, sometimes giving way to large clearings, which look to be farm fields. Buildings were spread out along the mostly flat area. Molnar said police believe Speight was still within the perimeter they had set up to surround him, but would not say how large an area they were searching. Police said they are also looking for a car and a pickup that belonged to Speight.

Speight was not listed as an offender on the Virginia Department of Corrections website and a search for his name on the Appomattox County courts site came up with no matches.

Speight's address was included in online real estate listings posted last year. They say the wooden house had three bedrooms and three bathrooms and sat on 34 acres. One online listing said homes in the area sell for about $189,000.

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.

After the shootings, 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."

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

Explosives found at Va. slaying suspect's home
By DENA POTTER, Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 12:32 p.m.

APPOMATTOX, Va. — Bomb technicians discovered a "multitude" of explosives Wednesday at a home where eight people were found dead, police said. The killings launched an all-night manhunt that ended when the suspect surrendered at sunrise.

Christopher Bryan Speight, 39, was wearing a bulletproof vest but had no weapons when he turned himself in to police around 7:10 a.m., Sheriff O. Wilson Staples said. Authorities say he fired at a state police helicopter, rupturing its gas tank and forcing it to land, but no one on board was hurt. Police still have not revealed a motive or identified the victims.

Staples said Wednesday that Speight lived in the home where three bodies were found inside and four outside. The eighth victim, who was found barely alive on the road just outside the house, died at the hospital.

Police were concerned that Speight might have rigged the house with explosives, and state police Sgt. Thomas Molnar said bomb-sniffing dogs found a "multitude of devices inside and outside the house." Bomb technicians were exploding the devices, a process expected to continue into Thursday.

Authorities have not said how Speight was related to the victims. Police spokeswoman Corrine Geller also would not say what Speight said when he turned himself in.

He was wearing camouflage pants and a black sweat shirt when officers put him in a sheriff's car at state police headquarters later Wednesday. He was being taken to Appomattox Regional Jail and had not been charged.

Police did not identify the dead, but rumors flew around the county, which has about 14,500 residents. Appomattox County Schools Superintendent Dorinda Grasty said she did not have the list of confirmed victims but expects the school system will be affected. Schools had planned to stay closed for the day before the gunman surrendered, but the flag was at half-staff in front of Appomattox County High School and Grasty said crisis teams will be available when students return Thursday.

The drama that started around noon Tuesday paralyzed the rural area about 100 miles southwest of Richmond that is best known as the place where Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant to end the Civil War. Police with dogs and heat-sensing equipment swarmed the woods and warned residents to stay indoors with doors locked.

"This is a horrific tragedy," Geller said at a news conference Wednesday. "It's definitely one of the worst mass killings in Virginia, probably since the Virginia Tech tragedy in April of 2007."

Appomattox County court records show a concealed weapons permit was issued to a Christopher Bryan Speight three times between 1999 and last year. The issue dates match the five-year renewal period for concealed handgun permits under Virginia law.

Authorities earlier said Speight had a high-powered rifle and Staples said investigators believe he had weapons training based on the weapons found in his home, though they have no information to indicate he was in the military.

Speight's uncle, Jack Giglio of Tampa, Fla., said his nephew was a deer hunter, though as far as he knew Speight did not have any specialized weapons training.

"We're shocked, of course," Giglio said. "I'm not aware of any problems with him. It's kind of out of the blue. We're still trying to pick up facts too."

Giglio said he hadn't seen Speight since 2006, when they both attended the funeral for Speight's mother, who died of brain cancer.

State police backed by other agencies spent Wednesday night enforcing a perimeter around a swath of woods that was 2 miles long and 1,000 yards wide.

The house where most of the bodies were found is located on a gravel road, with woods and farm fields surrounding it. On Wednesday morning, police had the road blocked about 100 yards from the house.

The drama began around noon Tuesday when deputies responded to an emergency call about an injured man along the side of a narrow country road.

A deputy who answered the emergency call heard more gunshots and soon the area, about 3 miles from the state police district headquarters, was filled with law enforcement from all over, with more than 100 responding.

---

Associated Press Writer Larry O'Dell in Appomattox and Harry R. Weber in Atlanta contributed to this report.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010 ... ects-home/

Va. rampage victims include suspect's relatives

By VICKI SMITH and DENA POTTER, Associated Press Writers
Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 7:49 p.m.

APPOMATTOX, Va. — The victims of a gunman's violent rampage in central Virginia included the suspect's sister and brother-in-law, as well as two other adults, three teenagers and a 4-year-old boy, according to authorities who charged the alleged shooter with first-degree murder on Wednesday.

Christopher Bryan Speight, a 39-year-old security guard, surrendered to police at daybreak after leading investigators on an 18-hour manhunt following the slayings at a house in rural central Virginia where deputies found a mortally wounded man and seven bodies.

A bomb squad discovered a multitude of explosives at Speight's home, and crews were detonating the devices into the night.

Speight had no weapons when he surrendered. He was wearing a bulletproof vest over a black fleece jacket, camouflage pants and mud-caked boots. Neither the sheriff nor a state police spokeswoman would disclose what Speight said when he gave up.

Speight was charged with one count of first-degree murder, but other charges are likely. He's being held at a jail in Lynchburg.

The suspect co-owned and lived in the home where some of the bodies were found Tuesday. David Anderson, co-owner of the Sunshine Market grocery store in Lynchburg, where Speight sometimes provided security, said Speight was worried that his sister and brother-in-law, wanted to kick him out of the house. The two recently moved in with Speight, he said.

Speight's mother deeded the house to Speight and his sister in 2006, shortly before she died of brain cancer. His mother's obituary listed the daughter as Lauralee Sipe and her husband as Dewayne Sipe.

State police identified the Sipes, both 38, as two of the victims, along with 16-year-old Ronald Scruggs; 15-year-old Emily Quarles; 43-year-old Karen and Jonathan Quarles; 15-year-old Morgan Dobyns; and 4-year-old Joshua Sipe.

Police say Speight knew all the victims, but they did not outline the victims' relationships or discuss a motive. No court date has been set.

Their bodies are at the state medical examiner's office in Roanoke, where their causes of death will be determined. Investigators wouldn't say what type of weapon was used in the rampage.

In nearby Lynchburg late Wednesday, about 100 people attended an impromptu prayer gathering at Thomas Terrace Baptist Church, where friends described Scruggs as a class clown and Emily Quarles as outgoing and friendly.

Youth minister Walt Davis said the community would need strength in the coming days and weeks. Adults were on hand for young people who wanted to talk or needed comforting.

Courtney Crews, 14, said she and Emily Quarles attended the same middle school but different high schools. They kept in touch by texting and talking on the phone.

"She was just a really good friend," Crews said, sobbing. "She was never mean to anybody."

Neighbor Monte W. Mays said Speight was a good neighbor. They waved as they passed each other on the road and sent their dogs out to play with one another.

"All the dealings I've ever had with him have been cordial and polite," said Mays, the county's retired commissioner of accounts. "We got along fine."

Speight had long been a gun enthusiast and enjoyed target shooting at a range on his property, Mays said. But the shooting recently became a daily occurrence, with Speight firing what Mays said were high-powered rifles.

"Then we noticed he was doing it at nighttime," and the gunfire started going deeper into the woods, Mays said.

Mays said the entire community is devastated and wondering what triggered the slayings.

"The only one who's going to know now is Chris," he said.

Anderson, the store co-owner, said Speight never wanted to talk about his problems, but he "constantly paced the floor," Anderson said. "I thought he was going to wear a trench in it."

Clarence Reynolds, who also works at the market, said he recently discussed a personal family problem with Speight, and Speight told him "don't let your emotions get the best of you."

Reynolds said Speight was not married and had no children.

Police were alerted to the bloodbath when they found the wounded man on the side of a road. Then sheriff's deputies discovered seven more bodies - three inside the house and four just outside.

When officers converged on the area, the suspected shooter fired at a state police helicopter, rupturing its gas tank and forcing it to land.

The shots revealed his location, and more than 100 police swarmed into the woods until Speight gave up the following morning.

Police said Speight appeared to have had weapons training, but there was no information suggesting he had served in the military.

Speight's uncle, Jack Giglio of Tampa, Fla., told The Associated Press that his nephew was a deer hunter, but as far as he knew Speight did not have any specialized weapons training. Giglio said he had not seen Speight since 2006, when both attended the funeral for Speight's mother.

"We're shocked, of course," Giglio said. "I'm not aware of any problems with him. It's kind of out of the blue. We're still trying to pick up facts, too."

Appomattox County court records show a concealed weapons permit was issued to a Christopher Bryan Speight three times between 1999 and last year.

The county's four schools remained closed for the day, the high school flag at half-staff. Administrators planned to bring in grief counselors. The school system posted a notice on its Web site late Wednesday announcing a two-hour delay Thursday morning so staff would have time to "prepare to talk with their students about the tragedy."
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Associated Press writers Larry O'Dell and Zinie Chen Sampson in Appomattox, Tim Huber in Charleston, W.Va., and Harry R. Weber in Atlanta contributed to this report

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

Killings stun and sadden Virginia town

By Oren Dorell, USA TODAY

APPOMATTOX, Va. — A handful of patrons and employees crowded around a TV at Granny Bee's restaurant on Wednesday to hear a Virginia State Police spokesman explain the explosions being heard in the area where eight people were shot to death the day before.

A bomb squad had found "a multitude of explosive devices" in and around the crime scene and was in the process of detonating them, Sgt. Thomas Molnar was saying. "They're going to explode the devices to render them safe today and tomorrow."

Seven explosives were detonated Wednesday afternoon, Molnar said later. He did not comment on why the explosives were there.

It was the latest jolt to the 14,000 people living among the Civil War battlefields in Appomattox County. They were already reeling when their neighbor, Christopher Speight, 39, surrendered to police Wednesday morning after an all-night manhunt.

Speight was being held without bail Wednesday night on one count of first-degree murder, said Lt. J.D. Baker of the Lynchburg Adult Detention Center.

Speight ended a night of hiding near his family's 34-acre property when he walked out of the woods toward a SWAT team. He was unarmed and uninjured, wearing a bulletproof vest, said Corinne Geller, spokeswoman for the state police.

Jeanette Cordell, a waitress at Granny Bee's, was bewildered. "You just don't expect something like that in this small town," she said.


RELATED: Man surrenders after eight slain in Va.

Pastor Rusty Small of Liberty Baptist Church downtown said Wednesday prayer services were focused on the victims and their families. He echoed Cordell: "There is a general sense of disbelief that this happened in this small place," he said.

"It's a big relief knowing that he's caught and nobody else can die," said Aaron Davidson, 15, who lives across a field from where police were stationed the night before.

Geller said Speight was cooperating with investigators.

Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were investigating the explosives and were searching for a high-powered rifle, Geller said.

Virginia State Police identified the victims late Wednesday as Ronald I. Scruggs II, 16; Emily A. Quarles, 15; Karen Quarles, 43; Jonathan L. Quarles, 43; Dwayne S. Sipe, 38; Lauralee Sipe, 38; Joshua Sipe, 4; and Morgan L. Dobyns, 15. All were from Appomattox except Scruggs, who was from Dillwyn, Va.

Police said Speight knew the victims, but they did not comment further on the relationships.

The incident began around noon Tuesday when someone reported a man lying on a road, she said. A sheriff's deputy who'd arrived to investigate heard gunfire. When additional police arrived, they found four bodies outside a home co-owned by Speight. There were three more bodies inside, Geller said.

During the manhunt that followed, the gunman fired a high-powered rifle at a Virginia State Police helicopter, which was forced to land with a punctured fuel tank.

About 150 law enforcement officers from 13 federal, state and local agencies surrounded an area 2 miles by 1,000 yards and searched with dogs and heat sensors overnight, Geller said.

At the crime scene, neon yellow evidence flags could be seen in front of the large two-story home and in the surrounding woods. On the patio was a child's basketball goal, and nearby were a bicycle with training wheels and a tree house.

The Appomattox County school system will open two hours late today to allow teachers time to prepare for grieving students. Grief counselors will be available, Appomattox Town Manager Bart Van Nieuwenhuise said.

Teens who attended a regular Wednesday youth service at Memorial United Methodist Church shared stories about the young victims they knew, Pastor Bruce Johnson said.

" 'Why?' is a question we've certainly heard a lot," Johnson said.

Speight's neighbors along the rolling hills dotted with cattle said they had been spooked Tuesday by the idea that a killer was on the loose.

"We were all worried," said Audrey Phelps, 86, who used to run a service station here. "We locked the doors and did something to protect ourselves. Each of us got a gun."

When neighbors heard Speight had been arrested, they were perplexed.

Elbert Williamson, 85, a retired bus driver, said his daughter sold Speight's house and 34 acres of land to Speight's grandparents 25 years ago. The family kept to themselves, he said, but he had never heard of Speight having trouble with anyone.

Williamson's wife, Ruby, 83, said the home was nicely landscaped. "He worked hard in that yard," she said. "He had gorgeous flowers."

Her husband nodded and added, "He must be nuts about guns, because he shoots all the time. He's done it for years."

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