Americas

Home page

Americas

Police search for person who killed eight in Virginia

20 January 2010 09:13 (UTC +04:00)

Virginia â€“ APA. Police searched into the early hours of Wednesday for a 39-year-old gunman wanted in the deaths of eight people in rural central Virginia, APA reports quoting CNN.
"More than 100 deputies, officers and state troopers will continue working through the night to locate and apprehend the armed subject," said a statement from Virginia State Police.
Seven of the victims were killed in and around a home in Appomattox, about 75 miles southwest of Richmond, and the eighth was found in the middle of a road, according to Tom Molinar of the State Police. Males and females were killed, but authorities did not provide their ages.
A motive for the shootings was not immediately known.
The accused gunman was identified as Christopher Speight. Authorities think he was acting alone, Molinar said.
"He is considered armed and dangerous," he added.
Police established a perimeter around Appomattox, Molinar said, and think Speight remains within their search area. The manhunt includes canine units and helicopters.