In a carnage event that a serene community witnessed, three people resulted dead and three others injured after a machine gun-style mass shooting.
The tragedy unfolded in a townhouse complex when multiple armed suspects opened fire, with witnesses reporting they saw young men carrying “big guns” walking down residential streets.
While officials have not revealed the motive behind this deadly attack that claimed multiple lives, including potentially teenagers, all suspects are now in custody following a major law enforcement response.
The shooting erupted in the Olde Greenwich Circle neighborhood, a typically peaceful area of brick townhomes.
Multiple residents called 911, reporting gunfire that witnesses described as sounding like a machine gun, immediately triggering a massive police response that included dozens of officers, drones, and a comprehensive search operation.
Law enforcement initially warned residents to remain vigilant during the manhunt.
Within hours, the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office confirmed that all suspects had been apprehended, though they have not yet revealed the number of individuals involved or their identities.
CBS 6 Crime Insider Jon Burkett witnessed two arrests in the area, though investigators have not officially confirmed whether these arrests were directly connected to the shooting incident.
One neighborhood witness provided a chilling firsthand account of the violence, describing how the armed suspects engaged in what appeared to be an exchange of gunfire before temporarily fleeing and then returning to the scene.
The witness recounted, “I was coming down the hill I was looking forward and then 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.”
They added, “Then I saw some run off down the road and after a little bit they started walking back holding their big guns.”
The impact on the community has been immediate and profound. Fredericksburg City Public Schools announced a two-hour delay, acknowledging the “profound impact this incident has had on members of our school community.”
Additional deputies and sheriff’s officers will also be stationed at local high schools to provide support in the aftermath of this tragedy.
Major Elizabeth Scott of the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office emphasized the severity of the situation during the initial response: “We will stay out here until the suspects are caught. This is probably as bad as it could get.”
Investigators are continuing to piece together exactly what happened and why. Reports indicate some victims may be teenagers, though authorities are still working to confirm the ages of all those involved.
Moreover, law enforcement has called on the community to assist by providing any Ring camera footage or other video evidence that might help with the investigation.
This horrific shooting serves as another stark reminder of how quickly violence can shatter peaceful communities.
While authorities have successfully apprehended all suspects, the physical and emotional wounds from this tragedy will take much longer to heal as residents struggle to make sense of the senseless bloodshed that has visited their neighborhood.
