APPOMATTOX, Va. (AP) — A lone shooter killed eight people Tuesday in central Virginia, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press, and police have the suspect circled in the woods where they believe he is hiding. State police say there were multiple deaths and injuries and that one shooter was responsible. They could not say what sparked the violence. The official who gave the number of dead asked for anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak about the investigation.
The drama paralyzed the rural area in southwest Virginia as police swarmed forests trying to flush out the suspect who, at one point in the manhunt, fired at a state police helicopter, forcing it to land with a ruptured fuel tank. No police were injured after one or more rounds struck the helicopter. No police were injured.
Canine units and a National Guard helicopter with thermal imaging equipment were being used to search a wooded area late Tuesday.
“They are searching the area and will continue until the suspect is apprehended,” State Police Sgt. Thomas Molnar said.
Full story: AP source: 8 killed in central Va. shootings