3 killed, 4 wounded in Louisa County, Va.

UPDATE:

A man involved in a dispute with other family members over property and belongings opened fire in a rural central Virginia neighborhood, killing two people and wounding four others before police fatally shot him, authorities said.

P.T. Spencer, a member of the Louisa County Board of Supervisors, said Monday that gunman Charles Sponaugle and two other family members had an ongoing dispute over a 1.5-acre lot after Sponaugle's mother died without leaving a will.

“We've had problems with them,” Spencer said of Sponaugle's family. He estimated the property was worth “$25,000, if that. It's just insane.” The shooting began around 5 p.m. Sunday at a mobile home outside of the town of Louisa, said Louisa County sheriff's Maj. Donnie Lowe. Officers killed the man and a pit bull they say he unleashed on them in a shootout. No officers were injured, Lowe said.

Officials haven't released the victims' identities.

The wounded, including one with life-threatening injuries, were transported to the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Lowe said. A hospital spokeswoman didn't immediately return a telephone message early Monday.

-- Associated Press

3 killed, 3 wounded in Louisa County, Va.
10:49 p.m.

Three people were killed and three others seriously wounded Sunday night in Louisa County, Va., authorities said.

The shootings occurred during a domestic dispute, according to the wife of county supervisor Willie L. Gentry Jr.

The supervisor’s wife said she understood that the assailant had been shot by a law enforcement officers.

Louisa County is between Richmond and Charlottesville.

-- Martin Weil