Five Held Hostage in Wytheville Post Office

WYTHEVILLE, Va. – According to authorities a man is holding five to six people hostage and he also claims to have explosives.Shots have been fired from the post office, according to people in the area. Police are asking for people in a four block radius to evacuate the area.

The situation began around 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday. According to Mayor Trent Crewe, three of the hostages are employees and no injuries have yet to be reported.

The shootings have been confirmed by a state police spokeswoman but there is no confirmation on whether the situation involves explosives or not.

A customer that left the Post Office said the suspect is in a wheelchair and has C-4 explosives strapped to his wheel chair. A sheriff’s office employee has confirmed that grenades have been found in the suspects truck. the truck is red and has Marine Corps stickers on it.

Around 4 p.m. a bomb squad arrived on scene along with a Va. state police helicopter.

Deputy Keith Dunagan of the Wythe County Sherriff’s department has been in direct communication with the suspect on a cell phone. Also, the suspect is not making any demands and refuses to release his name to authorities.

According to police, the gunman has shot out of the post office. they suggest that surrounding buildings should lock their doors and evacuate their businesses if possible. Customers are being turned away by authorities and told to leave the area as well.

The Wythe County Community Hospital and Crilion New River Medical Center are on alert to receive possible trauma patients.

According to a witness, SWAT and police cars are surrounding the building.

The Wytheville Fire Department has set up a truck with lights to prepare for a long standoff into the night.

SWAT, Smyth County deputies, Whytheville police, state police, Wythe deputies and the game department are at the scene.

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