Gunman kills two in Virginia shootout

A lone gunman went on a shooting rampage in a Virginia county on Wednesday, killing several people and injuring one, police said. The incident happened in Virginia's Appomattox County and the police did not reveal the number of deaths, which could be over two, local media reports said.

"There are fatalities, and there is an injury," said Seargent Thomas Molnar of the Virginia State Police. The suspect was still at-large when reports last came in. "I cannot confirm the number of fatalities, but there are several," he said. In a statement, the Appomattox County said the Sheriff's Department responded to an emergency call because "a male subject was lying

in the middle of Snapps Mill Road and needed medical assistance".

On reaching the spot, the official reported hearing gunshots being fired at a nearby house. The area was soon cordoned off by the police. The suspect is believed to have escaped into a wooded area with his weapon and fired additional shots at a state police helicopter, striking the fuel tank, the Times Virginian, reported.

"Because of the suspect shooting, the helicopter was struck and had to make an emergency landing," Molnar said, adding that at least four bullets struck the chopper. "The investigation is ongoing... Once we have more concrete information to release, we will," he added.