Police seek suspects in shootings on I-64 past Charlottesville

By LARRY O'DELL

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.

Police were searching for more than one suspect Thursday in a series of shootings at vehicles on Interstate 64, the superintendent of the Virginia State Police said.

Col. Steven Flaherty said at a news conference that authorities knew of no motive for the shootings, which injured two people and prompted the closure of a 20-mile stretch of I-64 between Charlottesville and Waynesboro for about six hours early Thursday.

Flaherty said police believe the shooter or shooters may still be in the area. He said motorists don't need to avoid I-64, but that they should be observant. He said police had a strategy for protecting motorists, but would not be specific.

"We're certainly going to put additional resources out," Flaherty said.

Flaherty said two cars, a van and a tractor-trailer — all traveling westbound — were struck by bullets along an 11-mile stretch of the highway early Thursday. An unoccupied parked Virginia Department of Transportation vehicle also was shot.

The two injured motorists were treated and released at hospitals in Staunton and Waynesboro. Flaherty said he did not know if the victims were struck by a bullet or by glass.

The first call came in at 12:10 a.m. One shooting occurred at the exit 114 on-ramp and three others occurred at the Rt. 690 overpass at the 106 mile marker in the Afton area.

Flaherty said police think the bullets were all of the same caliber but they could not be sure until forensic tests are completed. He could not say what type of gun was used.

Flaherty said he heard some media describe the shootings as a sniper incident, but he disagreed with that description. "It appears to be random firing," he said.

I-64 was closed just after midnight from mile marker 96 in Augusta County to mile marker 118 in Albemarle County and VDOT on set up a detour. The interstate was reopened in both directions at 6:20 a.m.