Mass shooting in Virginia suburb leaves three dead and three injured | Law Enforcement Today

SPOTSYLVANIA, VA - Authorities have confirmed that three people are dead and three others have been injured in a shooting on Tuesday evening, April 8th. As of this writing, one or more of the shooters remain at large.

According to the Associated Press (AP), around 5:30 p.m., multiple 911 calls came in about a shooting at a town house complex in Spotsylvania County, just outside Fredericksburg. The three injured people with gunshot wounds were taken to nearby hospitals. Their conditions remain unknown. Scott said all victims were found outside.

Major Elizabeth Scott, spokesperson for the Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office (SSO) said that officials urged people to avoid the area and those near the scene to remain indoors while authorities continue to investigate.

During the initial investigation, Scott said that the shooting may have been committed by more than one person and there were no immediate arrests or publicly released information about a possible motive. Scott said, "There's dozens upon dozens of officers out actively looking for suspects and preserving the crime scene."

During an evening news conference, Scott said, "We will be here all night until we find the suspects." Authorities have asked for any witnesses to send any video that could help the investigation. In an update on Wednesday morning, April 9th, CNN reported that four suspects are now in custody.

Authorities said that the shooting was in response to an illegal gun sale and robbery. SSO said in a social media post, "All suspects are in custody and there is no threat to public safety." The suspects, two 16-year-olds, a 17-year-old, and an 18-year-old, have been charged with malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony unlawful assembly."

The suspects are being held without bail. One of the 16-year-olds suffered a gunshot wound and is in the hospital. The three people killed were two 18-year-old men and one 20-year-old man. The identifies have not yet been released. 

According to FOX5DC, Fredericksburg City Schools announced a delayed opening for Thursday, April 10th, citing the "profound impact" the shooting has had on members of its schools community. ABC News reported that the school district said in a statement, "This delay will allow us the necessary time to prepare our buildings and staff to welcome students with the care and support they may need during this difficult time."

A witness who lives in the neighborhood where the shooting happened said she was coming home from work when she heard the gunshots.

She said, "I was coming down the hill. I was looking forward and I saw about three or four individuals and I heard it and I saw bullets going everywhere, they were kind of going at each other. Then I saw some runoff down the road and after a little bit they started walking back holding their big guns and they started walking up the hill, then they cut off behind the townhouses and that's when the first officer arrived on scene."