8 people fatally shot, helicopter forced to land after being shot, in Appomattox, VA

[tryfuhl]

my brother in law's family is still waiting to be allowed to see if one of the bodies is that of his little cousin.. apparently the report in the following link that all victims were adults isn't true according to an officer that's a family friend

8 Killed in Appomattox Shooting Rampage | ABC 7 News

APPOMATTOX, Va. - A lone shooter killed eight people in central Virginia, with seven bodies found at one home, police said Tuesday. State police said officers had the suspect, Christopher Speight, 39, circled in the woods late Tuesday near the home and they believed he was still alive. The eighth shooting victim was found on the side of the road and died on the way to the hospital, police said. All the victims were adults and both men and women were killed, state police Sgt. Thomas Molnar said.

Police refused to speculate on a motive and would not say what type of weapon was used. Molnar also gave no background on the suspect.

The drama paralyzed the rural area 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.

Canine units and a National Guard helicopter with thermal imaging equipment were being used to search the woods.

"They are searching the area and will continue until the suspect is apprehended," Molnar said.

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

"When the deputy arrived on the scene, that's when he heard several shots," Molnar said.

Police did not release the victims' names or the suspect's possible relationship to them.



Authorities told nearby residents to stay 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 lock their doors in an area with many 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."

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.

[tryfuhl]

A little info that I received on the gunman. Ex-Marine who loved guns.. too often we're hearing stuff like this nowadays.

[htownskinfan]

wow,thats so sad.Praying for your family

[saden1]

wow, that's horrible. RIP to all those who died.

[SolidSnake84]

It is a sad situation no doubt, but they should be careful before saying he's an ex-marine, and then people automatically assume the military made him go nuts.

He could have been discharged for being crazy, or maybe his time in the service simply ran out. Anyway, he would have some serious artillery to down a helicopter, as the police models are typically armored.

I'm just guessing that he has rifles in excess of .300 caliber, as a 30-06 or 300 magnum would have no problem punching through armor.

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by SolidSnake84

It is a sad situation no doubt, but they should be careful before saying he's an ex-marine, and then people automatically assume the military made him go nuts.

He could have been discharged for being crazy, or maybe his time in the service simply ran out. Anyway, he would have some serious artillery to down a helicopter, as the police models are typically armored.

I'm just guessing that he has rifles in excess of .300 caliber, as a 30-06 or 300 magnum would have no problem punching through armor.

Why? He is an ex-Marine (I assuming the report is correct). Should we say he is not white either just in case people think white guys are going crazy. He is what is.

[SolidSnake84]

The military right now already has to deal with a negative public image...i was only saying the title of "ex-marine" could be misleading....and leading people to believe the military drove him crazy.

Anyway, the guy has surrendered to the Police. no news yet on a motive.....

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by SolidSnake84

The military right now already has to deal with a negative public image...i was only saying the title of "ex-marine" could be misleading....and leading people to believe the military drove him crazy.

Anyway, the guy has surrendered to the Police. no news yet on a motive.....

good to hear he surrender.

Tryful any word on the young cousin?

[Trample the Elderly]

I'm a Former Marine. I love guns. What does that have to do going nuts and shooting people? That's like saying Jenny Craig makes overweight housewives drown their children.

[hooskins]

But Trample, that doesnt mean stricter gun regular would decrease the likelihood of these types of incidents.

Now it worth that loss of freedom to prevent these kinda acts, is up for debate.

[hooskins]

would not**

[Trample the Elderly]

Originally Posted by hooskins

But Trample, that doesnt mean stricter gun regular would decrease the likelihood of these types of incidents.

Now it worth that loss of freedom to prevent these kinda acts, is up for debate.

Not really. Any gang-member in Richmond who's worth his salt can make a gun.

I don't want anyone to get the wrong impression. I'm sorry these people were killed. I'm just saying don't blame the gun. Blame the nut job who used it.

It's just like R.Lee.Ermey said, "Your rifle is only a tool. It's a hard heart that kills."

There is no debate.

[SolidSnake84]

I agree with you TTR...i was just saying people all ready make ex military people out to be wackjobs, so that headline is a whole lot worse when it says "Ex Marine kills 8 people", instead of "8 people killed by shooter"....know what i mean?

I just always pay attention to these kind of stories because its so easy to get caught up in the sensationalism. I dont feel that the military creates psychos....i think people who are already mentally unstable are just at a higher risk...maybe this guy was one of those

[tryfuhl]

Originally Posted by SolidSnake84

It is a sad situation no doubt, but they should be careful before saying he's an ex-marine, and then people automatically assume the military made him go nuts.

He could have been discharged for being crazy, or maybe his time in the service simply ran out. Anyway, he would have some serious artillery to down a helicopter, as the police models are typically armored.

I'm just guessing that he has rifles in excess of .300 caliber, as a 30-06 or 300 magnum would have no problem punching through armor.

Yeah I haven't found anything confirming he's former military.. small town gossip mill no wonder why that came out. His uncle said he doesn't know of any weapons training that he had. They haven't mentioned the weapons but there's been mentioning of a high powered rifle by the police.

Turns out my brother in law's cousin was one of the victims and that he was also a close friend of my younger cousin's as well, so I'll be needing to call them this evening.

The shooter actually ended up being the son of my former typing instructor in middle school (she passed of a brain tumor a few years back); she was a very pleasant lady to be around.

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by Trample the Elderly

Not really. Any gang-member in Richmond who's worth his salt can make a gun.

I don't want anyone to get the wrong impression. I'm sorry these people were killed. I'm just saying don't blame the gun. Blame the nut job who used it.

It's just like R.Lee.Ermey said, "Your rifle is only a tool. It's a hard heart that kills."

There is no debate.

I agree it is the nut job not the gun.

Funny bumper sticker that I have seen says.

Guns Don't Kill People. People With Mustaches Kill People.