State police: Multiple fatals in Va. shooting; suspect surrounded by 100 officers in woods

Police: Multiple fatals in central Va. shooting

APPOMATTOX, Va. — A lone shooter was responsible for multiple deaths and injuries Tuesday and more than 100 law enforcement officials had him circled in woods where they believe he is hiding, state police said.

Police did not release the exact number of dead and injured and could not say what sparked the violence.

The gunman also fired at a sheriff’s deputy and a state police helicopter, which had to land with a ruptured fuel tank after one or more rounds struck it, said police spokeswoman Corrine Geller, said. No police were injured.

“We believe we have the male suspect confined in a wooded area,” Geller said.

The violence began shortly after noon when an injured man was found on a rural stretch of road. A deputy who went to investigate fled after he heard gunshots, Geller said.

“When the deputy arrived on the scene, that’s when he heard several shots,” State Police Sgt. Thomas Molnar said.

He said there were “several fatalities and one injury.” Police were still trying to determine the suspect’s relationship with the victims.

Residents near the shooting scene were told to remain 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 remain inside with their doors locked. She said many homeowners in the area are 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.”

The governor’s office said it was sending Secretary of Public Safety Marla Decker to the scene.

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.