8:58 p.m.
State Police name victims killed in shootings.
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7:51 p.m.
LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) - Authorities charge suspect in 8 Va. shooting deaths with first-degree murder.
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3:23 p.m.
By WSLS News Staff & AP
news@wsls.com
Police have found several suspcious devices at the crime scene, and will detonate the devices in a safe manner, rather than trying to examine and disarm the devices. Several explosions may be heard in the area of the crime scene.
APPOMATTOX, Va. (AP) - Police say they've found a "multitude" of explosive devices at the Virginia home of a man suspected of killing eight people.
State police Sgt. Thomas Molnar says bomb technicians are detonating the devices to make them safe. There's no indication any exploded on their own.
Christopher Bryan Speight surrendered early Wednesday after police say the 39-year-old spent the night hiding in the woods. He had no weapons with him, but police say they were concerned he had rigged his house with explosives.
Authorities still haven't disclosed the motive for the shootings or how the victims and shooter were related.
Police say four bodies were found outside Speight's house and three inside. Another badly wounded man was found in the road and died at the hospital.
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12:30 p.m.
By WSLS News Staff
news@wsls.com
Police say Christopher Speight, 39, killed 8 people in Appomattox Co on Tuesday. They are still looking for a high-powered rifle that was used to hit a State Police helicopter 4 times. When Speight turned himself in at 7:10 AM Wednesday morning, he was unarmed, but was wearing a bulletproof vest.
Speight was taken to the Appomattox Regional Jail for questioning. A bomb squad is searching the crime scene, because they believe there may be explosive devices in the area. Authorities believe Speight may have kept incendiary devices in or around his home at 3030 Snapps Mill Road (Virginia 703), near the town of Appomattox.
Once the bomb squad has cleared the scene, a mass casualty team and medical examiners will begin their work.
Police are still working to determine what motivated the shooting spree.
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8:37 a.m.
Lynchburg News & Advance:
The man police believe shot and killed eight people in Appomattox County before hiding in the woods overnight has been taken into custody.
Christopher B. Speight, 39, of Appomattox, was arrested without incident after he approached authorities at 7:10 a.m., said Appomattox County Sheriff Wilson Staples.
Authorities suspect him in the shooting deaths of eight people at a home on Snapps Mill Road, just south of the town of Appomattox.
“He was near the crime scene and physically approached law enforcement at the scene,” said Virginia State Police Spokeswoman Corrine Geller.
Today, Geller said, authorities will work on confirming identities of the eight victims. Three were found inside the house and five were found outside. One victim was transported to the hospital but later died from complications from multiple gunshot wounds.
“We have knowledge that Speight was acquainted with the victims, but the relationship we are not going into at this time,” Geller said.
Appomattox County supervisor Sam Carter said yesterday that Speight’s wife, son and another teenage boy were among the dead.
Speight is also accused of shooting a Virginia State Police helicopter, rupturing its fuel line and forcing it to land.
Speight has had a concealed weapons permit issued in Appomattox County since 1999, according to court records. Speight last filed to renew the permit on Jan. 6.
Appomattox County Schools will remain closed today.
The crime scene, a log cabin-style house with children’s toys in the yard situated right on Snapps Mill Road is now the focus of law enforcement.
About 100 law enforcement officials are investigating in and around the house. Many are still in full camouflage and bulletproof vests.
Further updates on the investigation are expected soon.
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7:50 a.m.
(AP) - Sgt. Thomas Molnar says 39-year-old Christopher Speight (Spite) approached officers at the crime scene at about 7:10 a.m. Wednesday and turned himself in.
Molnar says Speight was being taken to an undisclosed location to be interviewed. Charges are pending.
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7:40 a.m.
The Lynchburg News & Advance reports, Christopher Speight, suspected in an Appomattox County shooting that left eight people dead, was apprehended by authorities at 7:10 a.m.
He turned himself in without incident.
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6:27 a.m.
Investigators used dogs and heat-sensing equipment to search overnight for Christopher Speight.
State Police say he is armed with a high-powered rifle based on the shots that hit the helicopter.
Spokesperson Corinne Geller said state, local and federal officials are rotating shifts as they monitor the area. Geller says they will be more aggressive in their search both on the ground and in the air, once the sun rises.
The Appomattox County Sheriff said all the victims were adults.
They are not releasing the identities of the victims or their possible relationship to Speight.
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5:26 a.m.
State Police say all Appomattox County Schools are closed Wednesday.
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2:19 a.m.
State Police say they plan to give an update about the situation in Appomattox County at 5 a.m. Wednesday.
Stay with WSLS 10 On Your Side and wsls.com for the latest.
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12:43 a.m. Wednesday
By Lynchburg News & Advance
Del. Watkins Abbitt, I-Appomattox, got word of the unfolding events during the General Assembly session on Tuesday. “It’s a tragedy and it will have a great impact on our county,” he said. “We’ve never had anything like this before.”
The worst homicide he could recall in Appomattox County involved four deaths in a case about 30 years ago, he said.
Members of the Appomattox Board of Supervisors observed a moment of silence for the victims during their meeting Tuesday evening, where they received an update from Ferguson.
“We come to you with heavy hearts with what’s going on in our county tonight. I pray dear God for the families and all the ones involved,“ Supervisor Jerry Smith said during the meeting’s invocation.
Referring to the public safety officers involved Tuesday night, Ferguson said, “There is certainly cause for us to continue to pray for their safety.”
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11:55 p.m.
By WSLS News Staff
In a news release, State Police say investigators are also trying to locate two vehicles that belong to Speight.
One is a tan 1997 Ford Escort LX car.
The second vehicle is a green 1996 Ford F-150 pickup truck.
Anyone with information pertaining to Speight or these vehicles should call the State Police Appomattox Division at (434) 352-3419.
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11:20 p.m.
By Lynchburg News & Advance
State police confirmed eight people were killed as a result of a shooting incident in Spout Spring Tuesday.
Sgt. Thomas Molnar said three of those dead were found inside the house, and five were outside.
One of those victims, Molnar said, was originally found injured, lying on Snapps Mill Road. He later died at Lynchburg General Hospital, after being airlifted there by police.
Police named the suspect as Christopher Speight, 39, of Snapps Mill Road, in Appomattox.
Police said throughout Tuesday night that Speight was contained within a perimeter established by more than 150 officers from the state, Appomattox County and other jurisdictions.
Speight’s listed address, 3030 Snapps Mill Road, was listed for sale in 2009, in Yahoo.com’s real estate ads.
The building was listed as a three-bedroom, three-bathroom home, sitting on 34 acres of wooded land.
Police did not disclose whether the incident happened at Speight’s home or another house on the same road.
One home in the area of the incident was evacuated, police said Tuesday, but police were allowing most of the area residents into their homes.
Police said among those killed were both male and female subjects, but did not release names or ages, or any connections they had with Speight.
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11:13 p.m.
By Jarett Henshaw
WSLS Digital Journalist
jhenshaw@wsls.com
State Police are confirming that eight people were killed in a shooting that happened off of Snapps Mill Road in Appomattox County. Seven people were found dead at the scene. One person was taken to the hospital, where he later died in surgery.
State Police are looking for 39-year-old Christopher Speight of Appomattox County in connection with the shootings. They say spate is armed and dangerous.
"The suspect has retreated in the woods there behind the home, an area where we feel like he is familiar with. We have him contained there. We are fairly confident in that,” said State police lieutenant Craig Worsham.
Police say earlier Tuesday, Speight also fired at the state police helicopter.
"Four shots struck the helicopter, striking the fuel tank, but the helicopter landed safely without any further incident,” said State Police Sergeant Molnar Thomas.
Officers suited up in tactical gear to get ready to search for Speight. State Police say they're doing everything they can to catch him.
"Dogs are on scene to assist in the situation along with several tactical teams. We have a multitude of resources patrolling the highways and then two we have folks in stationary post around the perimeter to make sure that he doesn't escape,” said Worsham.
Worsham says families in the surrounding areas don't need to worry.
"The folks around the immediate area around the crime scene have been evacuated and other homes along the route there have been notified,” said Worsham
With over 150 officers on the scene, state police say they'll be out here as long as necessary to bring Speight in.
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11:08 p.m.
By Lynchburg News & Advance
Appomattox County supervisor Sam Carter said among the dead were Christopher Speight’s wife and son, as well as another teenage boy. Speight is the suspect in the shootings.
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10:47 p.m.
APPOMATTOX, Va. (AP) - 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."
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10:32 p.m.
APPOMATTOX, Va. (AP) - Police say a lone shooter killed eight people in central Virginia, with seven bodies found at one home.
State police say officers had the suspect, 39-year-old Christopher Speight circled in the woods late Tuesday near the home and that they believe he is still alive.
Police say the eighth shooting victim was found on the side of the road and died on the way to the hospital.
Police say all the victims in the Appomattox shootings were adults.
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10:23 p.m.
APPOMATTOX, Va. (AP) - State police: All 8 shooting victims adults; 7 found at a home, 1 dies on way to hospital.
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9:00 p.m.
APPOMATTOX, Va. (AP) - A law enforcement official familiar with the investigation tells The Associated Press that eight people have been killed in shootings in central Virginia.
The official asked for anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak about the investigation.
State police say there were multiple deaths and injuries Tuesday and that a lone shooter was responsible. They say more than 100 law enforcement officials had the suspect circled in woods where they believe he is hiding.
Police could not say what sparked the violence.
State police say the gunman also fired at a state police helicopter, which had to land with a ruptured fuel tank after one or more rounds struck it.
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8:58 p.m.
APPOMATTOX, Va. (AP) - AP source: 8 killed in shootings in central Virginia; police surround suspect in the woods.
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8:51 p.m.
APPOMATTOX -- Multiple people were killed in an Appomattox County shooting Tuesday afternoon that sparked a manhunt involving more than 150 police officers from throughout the region, and damaged a state police helicopter.
Sgt. Thomas Molnar with Virginia State Police said during a 7 p.m. news conference that law enforcement had a suspect cornered in a small wooded area behind a home off Snapps Mill Road between Concord and the Town of Appomattox, north of U.S. 460. As of 8 p.m. Tuesday, the suspect had not been apprehended and is considered armed and dangerous.
State Police released few other details on the situation. They would not say how many people had died, identify the suspect or any of the deceased.
Around noon Tuesday, Appomattox County emergency dispatchers received a call about a man lying in Snapps Mill Road and needing medical attention. When police arrived, they heard more gunshots, which sparked calls for assistance from neighboring counties.
Around 1:30 p.m., shots were fired at a Virginia State Police helicopter, striking it four times, including at least once in a fuel line. The helicopter was forced to land because of a fuel leak. There were no injuries.
Centra Health spokesperson Susan Brandt said a man with multiple gunshot wounds from the reported shooting in Appomattox County was flown to Lynchburg General Hospital by MedFlight around 1:30 p.m. He had surgery and was transferred to the neurological intensive care unit, where he later died from complications of multiple gunshot wounds. Brandt could not release his identification because next of kin had not been notified.
Brandt said the hospital was told of only one patient coming in with injuries.
The State Police’s Appomattox district headquarters are within a couple of miles of Snapps Mill Road, where deputies and state police surrounded a small white farmhouse on the narrow two-lane road. Neighbors say the house is home to a family of four.
Resident Bethel Hawkins told The Associated Press that 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 two miles up the road from the shootings. “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.”
A nearby private school went on lockdown around 12:30 p.m., but students were released to their parents under police supervision around 3 p.m., said Cornerstone Christian Academy Administrative Assistant Teri Houts.
Two families have been evacuated from the area, where access has been blocked. Deputies from sheriff’s offices in Appomattox, Prince Edward, Campbell and Charlotte counties are on the scene, as well as officers from the Farmville police department and the Virginia State Police, including tactical and K-9 units.
Appomattox County officials offered to open an emergency shelter for the displaced families, but county administrator Aileen Ferguson said those services were not needed.
Del. Watkins Abbitt, I-Appomattox, got word of the unfolding events during the General Assembly session on Tuesday. “It’s a tragedy and it will have a great impact on our county,” he said. “We’ve never had anything like this before.”
The worst homicide he could recall in Appomattox County involved four deaths in a case about 30 years ago, he said.
Members of the Appomattox Board of Supervisors observed a moment of silence for the victims during their meeting Tuesday evening, where they received an update from Ferguson.
"We come to you with heavy hearts with what's going on in our county tonight. I pray dear God for the families and all the ones involved," Supervisor Jerry Smith said during the meeting's invocation.
Referring to the public safety officers involved Tuesday night, Ferguson said, "There is certainly cause for us to continue to pray for their safety.”
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7:30 p.m.
By Lynchburg News & Advance
State police still are not saying how many people are dead in a shooting incident near Spout Spring in Appomattox County this afternoon that has sparked a manhunt involving well over 100 officers.
At a recently concluded news conference, Sgt. Thomas Molnar with Virginia State Police said law en-forcement has a suspect cornered in a small wooded area behind a home off Snapps Mill Road, which is between Concord and the Town of Appomattox north of U.S. 460. The suspect has not been apprehended and is considered armed and dangerous.
State police divulged few new details in the investigation. They would not say how many people have died or identify the suspect or any of the deceased.
Two families have been evacuated from the area, where access has been blocked. State police have called in officers from other locations, in addition to deputies from several Central Virginia sheriff’s offices. Molnar said.
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7:00 p.m.
By Lynchburg News & Advance
More than 100 officers from several jurisdictions have converged on Appomattox County to help in the investigation.
Deputies from sheriff’s offices in Appomattox, Prince Edward, Campbell and Charlotte counties are on the scene, as well as officers from the Farmville police department and the Virginia State Police, including tactical and K-9 units.
Shortly after 6 p.m. more than a dozen police cruisers pulled into the Virginia State Police’s Appomattox division parking lot of U.S. 460. Some refueled and headed back out to the scene, while others remained at the headquarters, which is being used as a command center.
State police are expected to have an update on the investigation at a news conference at 7 p.m.
State police headquarters are within a couple of miles of Snapps Mill Road, where earlier today deputies and state police surrounded a small white farmhouse down a narrow two-lane road.
Access to the area has been blocked since this afternoon.
County administrator Aileen Ferguson said the county has offered to open a shelter to help displaced families or victims, however, Appomattox Sheriff Wilson Staples told her one was not needed. There is one displaced family and they have taken care of, she said.
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6:30 p.m.
APPOMATTOX, Va. (AP) - A lone shooter was responsible for multiple deaths and injuries Tuesday and more than 100 law enforcement officials had him circled in the woods where they believe he is hiding, state police said.
A spokeswoman could not say how many were dead or injured in the shootings or 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, the 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.
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5:36 p.m.
(AP) - State police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said more than 100 law enforcement officials have surrounded the gunman in a wooded area just outside of Appomattox.
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5:04 p.m.
Lynchburg News & Advance
State police are confirming "multiple" fatalities at the incident on Snapps Mill Road in Appomattox County and say a suspect has been contained.
Sgt. Thomas Molnar with Virginia State Police would not release the identities or the exact number of people killed at a 4 p.m. news conference.
Police have established a perimeter from Police Tower Road to Snapps Mill Road, Molnar said, and a suspect has been "contained" in a wooded area, though is not in custody.
Molnar also confirmed that a state police helicopter was struck by gunfire four times and was forced to land because of a fuel leak. No law enforcement officers were reported injured.
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3:10 p.m.
APPOMATTOX, Va. (AP) - Virginia State Police say they are seeking a shooter who injured at least two people and shot at a police helicopter.
Sgt. Gary White Jr. said police found the injured Tuesday along a rural stretch of road in the central Virginia locality east of Lynchburg. He said they were taken from the scene by medical helicopter to be treated.
White said the shooter fired at a police helicopter that responded to the search, but did not hit it.
White said the nature of the shooting is not known, and the shooter has not been apprehended.
As a precaution, a Christian school within several miles was locked down and a state police officer was stationed there.
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2:58 p.m.
From our newsroom at the Lynchburg News & Advance:
Media has been moved away from the a house on Snapps Mill Rd. in Appomattox Co. because authorities say it's too dangerous at the scene.
Police have not released any details on the incident, but neighbors report hearing gunshots. The neighbors also said that a family of four lives at the house. Law enforcement officers were seen heading into the woods near the home with rifles.
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