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| Virginia shootings man surrenders | Virginia shootings man surrenders |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A man suspected of shooting dead eight people in rural Virginia has given himself up after a manhunt in which a US police helicopter was fired on. | A man suspected of shooting dead eight people in rural Virginia has given himself up after a manhunt in which a US police helicopter was fired on. |
| The suspect was personally acquainted with all the victims, who were adult men or women, police in the Appomattox area said. | The suspect was personally acquainted with all the victims, who were adult men or women, police in the Appomattox area said. |
| Seven victims were found at a house and the eighth was found dying on a road. | Seven victims were found at a house and the eighth was found dying on a road. |
| A sheriff said he believed the killer had had weapons training, based on arms found in the house. | A sheriff said he believed the killer had had weapons training, based on arms found in the house. |
| The suspect, named as Christopher Speight, 39, turned himself in at about 0710 (1210 GMT) after an all-night stand-off with police, who had surrounded woodland just outside the town of Appomattox. | The suspect, named as Christopher Speight, 39, turned himself in at about 0710 (1210 GMT) after an all-night stand-off with police, who had surrounded woodland just outside the town of Appomattox. |
| Virginia State Police issued this photo of the suspect, Christopher Speight | Virginia State Police issued this photo of the suspect, Christopher Speight |
| He was taken into custody at an undisclosed location, pending charges, police said. | He was taken into custody at an undisclosed location, pending charges, police said. |
| The helicopter that was fired upon was forced to land with a ruptured fuel tank but no police officers were hurt. | The helicopter that was fired upon was forced to land with a ruptured fuel tank but no police officers were hurt. |
| Sgt Thomas Molnar, of the Virginia state police, said he did not know if Mr Speight had been armed when he surrendered. | Sgt Thomas Molnar, of the Virginia state police, said he did not know if Mr Speight had been armed when he surrendered. |
| News of the shootings broke on Tuesday afternoon and everyday life in the area was paralysed, with local schools closing down as police hunted for the gunman. | News of the shootings broke on Tuesday afternoon and everyday life in the area was paralysed, with local schools closing down as police hunted for the gunman. |
| 'Lock your doors' | 'Lock your doors' |
| The authorities were first alerted when they received a call about an injured person lying in the middle of a road in need of medical assistance. | The authorities were first alerted when they received a call about an injured person 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. | When a deputy arrived at the scene, he heard gunfire and called for back-up. |
| Police from across the state were brought into the densely wooded area, which is about 100 miles (160km) south-west of Virginia's capital, Richmond. | Police from across the state were brought into the densely wooded area, which is about 100 miles (160km) south-west of Virginia's capital, Richmond. |
| Police dogs and a National Guard helicopter with thermal imaging equipment were used to search the woods. | Police dogs and a National Guard helicopter with thermal imaging equipment were used to search the woods. |
| The motive for the shootings was not immediately clear. | The motive for the shootings was not immediately clear. |
| Mr Speight was living in Snapps Mill Road, to the west of Appomattox, where police concentrated their search. | Mr Speight was living in Snapps Mill Road, to the west of Appomattox, where police concentrated their search. |
| The Washington Post quoted local officials as saying two of the dead were believed to be his wife and son. | The Washington Post quoted local officials as saying two of the dead were believed to be his wife and son. |
| Police said they were still working to positively identify the victims and notify their families. | Police said they were still working to positively identify the victims and notify their families. |
| A number of people living in the wooded area being searched by the police were evacuated. | A number of people living in the wooded area being searched by the police were evacuated. |
| Bethel Hawkins - who lives about two miles from where the shootings happened - said police had warned families to lock their doors. | Bethel Hawkins - who lives about two miles from where the shootings happened - said police had warned families to lock their doors. |
| "We're just being cautious, keeping our doors locked, not going outside," she told told the Associated Press news agency. | "We're just being cautious, keeping our doors locked, not going outside," she told told the Associated Press news agency. |
| Appomattox is famous as the site where the Confederacy's General Robert E Lee surrendered in 1865, effectively ending the American Civil War. | Appomattox is famous as the site where the Confederacy's General Robert E Lee surrendered in 1865, effectively ending the American Civil War. |
| 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. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and 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 | 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 |