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Eight dead in Virginia shootings | Eight dead in Virginia shootings |
(9 minutes later) | |
Police have surrounded a lone gunman who shot and killed eight people in the US state of Virginia. | |
At one point, a police helicopter was fired on by the man and forced to land with a ruptured fuel tank. | |
All the dead were adults - men and women. Seven bodies were discovered at one home, while an eighth victim found on a road died on the way to hospital. | |
Officers say they have surrounded a suspect in woodland just outside the central town of Appomattox. | Officers say they have surrounded a suspect in woodland just outside the central town of Appomattox. |
Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said: "We know he's armed, we know he's dangerous, we know he's already shot at a state police helicopter, and actually struck it several times. | |
"Fortunately it was able to make a safe emergency landing... Unfortunately though this individual is responsible for a total of eight deaths at this time." | |
'Lock your doors' | |
The drama began when the authorities received a call about one of the victims lying in the middle of a road, in need of medical assistance. | |
When a deputy arrived at the scene, he heard gunfire and called for back up. | |
Police said at a media briefing that officers from across the state had been brought in to the area. | Police said at a media briefing that officers from across the state had been brought in to the area. |
Police dogs and a National Guard helicopter with thermal imaging equipment were being used to search the woods. | Police dogs and a National Guard helicopter with thermal imaging equipment were being used to search the woods. |
"We have him [the gunman] contained, we're fairly sure of that," they said. | "We have him [the gunman] contained, we're fairly sure of that," they said. |
Virginia State Police issued this photo of the suspect, Christopher Speight | |
It is not known what prompted the shootings, but Virginia State Police identified the suspect as Christopher Speight, 39. | |
The Washington Post quoted local officials as saying two of the dead were believed to be his wife and son. | |
A number of people living in the sealed-off wooded area have been evacuated. | A number of people living in the sealed-off wooded area have been evacuated. |
Bethel Hawkins - who lives about two miles (3km) from where the shootings happened - told the Associated Press news agency police had warned families to lock their doors. | |
"We're just being cautious, keeping our doors locked, not going outside," she said. | |
Appomattox is about 160km (100 miles) south-west of Virginia's capital Richmond. | Appomattox is about 160km (100 miles) south-west of Virginia's capital Richmond. |
Are you in Virginia? Have you been affected by the incidents today? Send us your comments, pictures and video. | Are you in Virginia? Have you been affected by the incidents today? Send us your comments, pictures and video. |
Send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
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The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |