US police are hunting an armed man after eight people were shot dead in the state of Virginia.
Police named the suspect as Christopher Speight and said that he had fled into woods after the attack at a house in the town of Appomattox on Tuesday.
The assailant shot at a police helicopter, rupturing its fuel tank, as it circled the woods trying to track him down.
Officials found three dead bodies inside the home and four outside it.
The eighth victim, who was found by the side of a road, died after being taken to hospital.
"When the deputy arrived on scene, the deputy heard several gun shots and he in turn contacted his dispatch centre and they dispatched several more of their deputies to the scene along with contacting the Virginia state police for assistance," Thomas Molnar, a spokesman for the Virginia State police, said.
"They are searching the area and will continue until the suspect is apprehended,'' he said.
"There is just one male suspect."
Police have not suggested a motive for the attack, given details of the dead or made comments about the suspect's background.
Residents of the area where the attack took place were warned to remain indoors and more than 150 law enforcement officers were reportedly involved in the search.
"The perimeter has been established and we believe the suspect is within the quarantined area," Molnar said.
PHOTO CAPTION
This image provided by the Virginia State Police shows shooting suspect Christopher Speight, 39, who is being sought in connections with the fatal shootings of eight people in Appomattox, Va., Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010.
Al-Jazeera