2 states, 6 locations: 13 killed in US shootings
Eight of a family, including two children, killed in ‘execution style murder’ in rural Ohio state.
OHIO/GEORGIA (US): At least eight people were found dead on Saturday in four locations in rural Ohio state in the United States, authorities said. Seven of them, including two children, were slain in “execution-style killings” at three homes along a rural road, but no arrests were made and it’s unclear whether the killer or killers were among the dead, authorities said today.
Details on the death of the eighth person weren’t immediately available, but the body was found in a fourth location, said Jill Del Greco, spokeswoman with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Attorney General Mike DeWine planned to provide an update in Pike County later on Saturday afternoon, she said.
DeWine and Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader had said earlier that seven victims were believed to be members of the same family. All were shot to death, they said.
There is not an active shooter and no arrests have been made, DeWine and Reader said. Authorities are trying to determine a motive, identify the deceased and determine if the killer or killers are among the deceased individuals or on the loose.
A dozen Bureau of Criminal Investigation agents were called on Saturday morning to Pike County, an economically struggling area in the Appalachian region some 80 miles east of Cincinnati.
TV reports from the scene said a staging area has been set up with ambulances and fire personnel.
Gov John Kasich, campaigning in Pennsylvania for his Republican presiden- tial bid, said his office was monitoring the situation in Pike County.
“Reports we are receiving from Peebles are tragic beyond comprehension,” Kasich wrote on his Twitter account.
The FBI in Cincinnati also said it was closely monitoring the situation and has offered assistance to the Pike County sheriff ’s office if needed.
Peebles High School imposed a precautionary lockout today morning after authorities notified the superintendent of shootings that had occurred a few miles away, according to Regina Bennington, secretary to the superintendent for the Adams County Ohio Valley Schools district.
High school officials said the school was back to normal operations later today morning.
Shooting incidents were also reported from the east coast state of Georgia.
Columbia County Coroner Vernon Collins says three people were shot Friday night at one location in Appling, two of whom died at the scene; the third died at the hospital. He says two other people were shot dead at another location about a mile away.
Agents from the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation were leading the investigation, the statement said. Ohio Governor and Republican presidential candidate John Kasich tweeted that the situation was “beyond comprehension.”
Firearms kill some 30,000 people in the United States each year. However, Republican lawmakers, many of whom are backed by the powerful National Rifle Association, have blocked President Barack Obama’s attempt to pass gun control legislation. “Americans are looking for the Indian market for the future and any sort of pipeline will put an end to these investments. So, I don’t think pipeline can be a serious project. I am sure Americans will not let this project go ahead,” he added. He said that the Chabahar port project that will open up access to central Asia has been almost finalised. “It has almost been finalised. Only the signatures at the ministerial level are due,” he said. “It will give a good access to Indians to Afghanistan, to Central Asia, Russia and North Europe. According to a test that was done recently, it would be 40 percent cheaper for Indian goods to go to Europe. But I don’t think Americans will be able to use that,” he said. India and Iran agreed to fast-track the Chabahar port project as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held talks during her first visit to the country on Sunday. Ansari also said Chabahar and Gwadar, which is situated in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, were not competing issues. “I don’t think Chabahar and Gwadar are competing against each other. We are not looking at Chabahar this way, and Chabahar is not a new offer to the Indians. The first time it was directly offered was in 2003. Maybe, in future these two ports can be linked as well,” he added.
Firearms kill some 30,000 people in the United States each year. However, Republican lawmakers, many of whom are backed by the powerful National Rifle Association, have blocked President Barack Obama’s attempt to pass gun control legislation.