Active Shooter At Greyhound Bus Station In Richmond — REPORT

In Virginia on Thursday, local law enforcement responded to a situation involving an active shooter at a Greyhound bus station in Richmond, according to CNN. Several of the victims sustained serious wounds, and the suspected shooter has died from police gunfire.

Corinne Geller of the Virginia State Police told Fox News that two Virginia State Police troopers were taken to a hospital for treatment following the incident. CBS News reported that one of those state troopers has since died. Appearing on Fox News, Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham said that six people total, including the two police officers, were shot at the Greyhound Bus Station. Several of the victims were in critical condition. Images from the scene show that many police vehicles responded to the emergency situation. Local law enforcement blocked the surrounding streets and cordoned off the station. Virginia State Police and Richmond police have now been joined by FBI agents on the scene to continue this investigation.

According to WTVR CBS 6 reporter Jon Burkett, the Virginia State Police were at the bus station for a training exercise when the gunfight broke out. Though his report is unconfirmed, Burkett said witnesses told him the suspect began shooting directly at the police officers, who then returned fire. There were several eyewitnesses, including a man who overheard the incident while outside for a smoke break, reported WTVR CBS 6.

Shortly after the scene was secured, Richmond, Virginia Mayor Dwight Jones' office released this statement, according to WTVR:

Mayor Jones has been fully briefed on the shooting incident on the Boulevard at the Greyhound Bus Station. He is in constant contact with Richmond Police Chief Al Durham. The matter is under the jurisdiction of the Virginia State Police and Richmond Police officials are fully engaged and acting in a supporting role at this time. Mayor Jones has also made contact with Governor Terry McAuliffe and the City and State are working collaboratively to respond to this incident. The Mayor is asking citizens to avoid the impacted area to allow law enforcement and emergency responders to function as efficiently as possible in responding to this incident and stabilizing the scene.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, this is the 56th mass shooting this year. 2016 has already seen 3,141 deaths due to gun violence and 1,160 officer-involved incidents. Sadly, these numbers are up from last year, meaning that the United States is projected to have more gun-related injuries and deaths this year than any other year on record.