Shootings on Blue Ridge Parkway

[DCofVA]

Source: Daily Progress

Public Information Officer for the National Park Service, confirmed this morning that the FBI has joined local and state authorities in the search for a suspect in relation to yesterday’s parkway shootings.

Read more: http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/article/attack_leads_to_manhunt_on_afton_mountain/54493/

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What is so unusual about this shooting is; they closed 13 miles of the Park Way and, the FBI is involved and, they haven't released any of the names of the victims or, their condition.

[Arctic Dave]

1. Hmmm. Strange indeed.

[pattmarty]

2. RW fucking wackos???????

[chill_wind]

3. Didn't know about this. Here's a little more:

Three reportedly wounded in shootings on Blue Ridge Parkway
by Brendan Fitzgerald, April 6th 09:51am

Waynesboro's News Virginian stays on the case of three reported shootings that took place yesterday evening near milepost 10 of the Blue Ridge Parkway (located within a few miles of Humpback Rock). Law enforcement responded yesterday evening around 8pm, and the News Virginian reports that a suspect remained at large as of 11:30pm yesterday. Law enforcement is looking for a suspect described as a white male with long gray hair, driving a red car. As the News Virginian also mentions, guns may be carried in the Blue Ridge Parkway so long as the proper permit is obtained.

A man and woman were taken to the University of Virginia Medical Center and are reported in critical and fair conditions, respectively; as of this morning, there is no new information regarding a third victim.

http://www.c-ville.com/index.php?cat=1991704080566501&act=post&pid=12030604103093672

[formercia]

5. I wonder if they had an Obama sticker.

Jus' askin'.

[jberryhill]

4. "they haven't released any of the names of the victims or, their condition"

Because, you know, if you are the victim of a crime that puts you in the hospital, you certainly want every kook in the country to know you won't be home for a while, and the exact condition of your vital organs.

[ManiacJoe]

13. Federal law (HIPPA) prohibits anyone involved in the rescue or

treatment or insurance of patients from disclosing any info to anyone without the consent of the patient. This is why the news never has any "status" on the people involved with anything.

[jberryhill]

14. That's what I was driving at....

I always like posts with dark overtones stating, "The cause of death has not been disclosed."

[hlthe2b]

6. FBI involvement is expected--National Parks are Federal Jurisdiction

Same as if a group of visitors developed illness--CDC would be called and have responsibility over state public health. That's pro forma.

As to the rest, I couldn't say--perhaps they haven't been able to inform next of kin?

[Dogtown]

8. Reasonable interpretation

Exactly how I read it.


More likely to be a triangle than anything else, from what's been released.

[chill_wind]

12. Makes sense. n/t

[Blue_Tires]

7. we had another nutbar taking potshots at cars from an overpass

somewhere in central VA a couple years back, iirc

[beac]

Yes, and in almost the same area-- Afton Mountain.

http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/crime/article/i_64_reopens_after_shooting_spree_closure/7636/

[beac]

11. Yes, and in almost the same area-- Afton Mountain.

http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/crime/article/i_64_reopens_after_shooting_spree_closure/7636/

[nebenaube]

20. This is likely the same guy...

and he used to live over on the east side of C'ville in the early '90s. And no... I don't remember his name but he's in his forties now.

[chill_wind]

9. More here: Could have been random, or possibly domestic.

Blue Ridge Parkway
Nelson County, Virginia

As NCL first broke Monday evening, lawmen and rescue crews spent most of the nighttime hours along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Nelson and Augusta Counties. Sometime around dark a white male with grayish thinning hair 50-60 years old shot two people on the BRP near Rock Point Overlook. Police say a shotgun may have been used and the suspect may still be in possession of the gun. As of this update, confusion still exists over the exact details of what unfolded. Earlier reports put out by law enforcement and news agencies that 3 people were shot, appear to be from conflicting information on locating all of the victims in the initial hours of the investigation.

As of Tuesday morning, lawmen continued their search for the white male with gray hair possibly driving a red Ford Taurus. “There were some reports that the car was located possibly in Bedford or Botetourt County Monday night, but as of midnight, we still don’t know that to be the case,” said Nelson County Sheriff David Brooks. Brooks says a total of three people were injured in the incident, but it appears as of this story only two were shot. A female 18 years old. A male age 29.

The north end of the BRP from Reeds Gap to I-64 is is closed while the investigation continues. BRP Report by clicking here.

The male victim was rescued from roughly 200 feet below Rock Point Overlook and later airlifted. “Wintergreen Rescue and Waynesboro’s First Aid Crews carried the male about 1/2 mile by putting him in a stokes basket and carrying him out,” said Curtis Sheets, Chief of Wintergreen Fire & Rescue. Chief Sheets said it took almost 1.5 hrs to carry the injured man out. How he ended up over the cliff is not known at this time. A state trooper was injured as routine part of working the scene but was not assaulted or injured by the suspect.

The 18 year old female that was injured is reported to have been picked up near The Afton Inn on the north end of the parkway and transported to a hospital.

There continues to be great confusion as to exactly what happened, and whether the victim and the shooter know each other. Some authorities on the scene believe it may have been domestic violence, others random.

Virginia State Police had helicopters hovering over the parkway much of Monday night looking for the suspect, but as of midnight had not located him.

http://www.nelsoncountylife.com/2010/04/06/gunman-on-blue-ridge-parkway-busy-night-for-lawmen-rescue-4-6-10/

[Haole Girl]

10. Thanks

Appreciate the add'l info.

[chill_wind]

15. Red or maroon car, possibly a Ford Taurus.

And that's about all the update I can find at 1 pm.

[DCofVA]

16. The Appalachian Trail runs along the Blue Ridge Parkway

Maybe there's a cover up involving Governor Sanford. :eyes:
But seriously, my first thought was that it may be a disgruntle ex-boy friend but, the age discrepancy is huge. The victims are 18 and 27, and the shooter is in his 60s. And why is the Parkway still close as of the noon news?

[struggle4progress]

17. ... As a 27-year-old man with muscular dystrophy and his 18-year-old female friend enjoyed a Monday

sunset at the Rock Point Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway, an unknown assailant pulled up in a red car and fired a shotgun blast into their backs, according to the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office. As the injured Charlottesville man tumbled nearly 150 feet down the overlook, the shooter got out of his car and a life or death struggle between the gunman and the Fluvanna teen took place. “If she had given up, she might be dead,” Sheriff Randy Fisher said this afternoon ... Fisher said the victims did not know the gunman. “At this point, it appears random,” he said ...

Sheriff: Teen victim struggled with gunman before escaping
By Brad Zinn/staff • [e-mail] • April 6, 2010
http://www.newsleader.com/article/20100406/NEWS01/100406005

[struggle4progress]

18. Police: Parkway victims were watching sunset

AFTON — ... The 27-year-old Charlottesville man fell off the overlook and landed 150 feet below at the bottom of a cliff, and the woman, 18, and from Palmyra was picked up by motorists and taken to safety. Augusta County Sheriff Randy Fisher said the search still is on for the white gunman with gray, thinning hair, possibly driving a red car. Both victims are recovering at the University of Virginia Medical Center. He is listed in serious condition, and her condition is stable ... Fisher said in a press release that the couple was sitting in a green Honda when they were shot ...
Police: Parkway victims were watching sunset
Search still on for gunman
Staff Report • April 6, 2010
http://www.newsleader.com/article/20100406/NEWS01/100406001/1002/news01/Police++Parkway+victims+were+watching+sunset

[chill_wind]

19. Thanks for the updates. The reports remain rather conflicting, looks like.

In one account, they were shot inside their car. in the other, it sounds like they were sitting outside of the car when the shooting happened and one of them fell down off the overlook -- horrible either way!