Gunman killed after firing at W. Va. federal building

Michael Winter, USA TODAY 6:10 p.m. EDT October 9, 2013

Shooter with assault rifle fired several rounds at Wheeling building and a nearby YWCA. He reportedly was a former police officer.


BREAKING NEWS(Photo: Jerry Mosemak, USA TODAY)

A gunman fired multiple rounds into the federal building in Wheeling, W.Va., on Wednesday afternoon and was shot dead by police, according to news reports.

A security guard suffered minor injuries when the unidentified suspect fired an estimated 20 rounds into the building at 2:30 p.m., The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register reported.

Authorities identified the gunman as Thomas Picard, who died at a local hospital, WV MetroNews reported. U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld said he was a former Wheeling police officer.

City resident Carla Webb Daniels said she saw the man reload his assault rifle and then fire at a nearby YWCA. She said he fired between 25 and 30 rounds.

An unidentified store manager said it sounded like the shooter used two different weapons.

Police reportedly shot the gunman, whose motive remains unknown.

The building houses the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, along with regional offices of the Social Security Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and the General Services Administration.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/09/west-virginia-federal-building-shooter-killed/2954821/