RICHMOND, Va., March 31 (UPI) — A Virginia State Police trooper was gravely wounded and two bystanders were also hurt Thursday when a man pulled a gun at a Greyhound bus station and began shooting, authorities said.
Troopers were participating in a counter-drug training drill inside the Richmond bus station when the accused gunman pulled a weapon and shot the trooper from point-blank range. The shooting happened around 2:45 p.m. local time, officials said.
Two troopers standing nearby immediately returned fire, officials said, and wounded the shooter — who later died at the hospital.
Authorities said the wounded trooper has life-threatening injuries, but the two bystanders are expected to survive.
Witnesses told news outlets that they heard between two and 12 gunshots.
Richmond police are investigating the incident and possible motives.
“Our public safety team and I will continue to monitor the situation and support State Police and local authorities in their response and investigation of this incident,” Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe said Thursday.
Many residents of Richmond, a city of about 1.2 million people, said they were stunned by the sudden shooting.
“I would just never believe this,” Richmond City Councilwoman Reva Trammell told WWBT-TV. “For these troopers to be gunned down like that, and innocent people to be gunned down and shot, and for us to lose a state trooper. … what about their families?”
“Richmond Police Department officials are fully engaged and are acting in a supporting role,” Richmond Mayor Dwight Clinton Jones said. “We are all heartbroken by this occurrence and our prayers go out to all those that have been affected by this incident.”
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.