3 dead, 4 wounded in shootout in central Virginia

8/23/2010 08:10:08 AM

LOUISA, Va. – Authorities in central Virginia say a property where a man killed his son and nephew and wounded four others had been the site of about two dozen trouble calls in the past.

Police in Louisa County say Charles Sponaugle and two other family members had an ongoing dispute over a 1.5-acre lot in a rural neighborhood after Sponaugle's mother died without leaving a will.

Police say they were called out to the property around 2 p.m. Sunday and a dispute was resolved. But they say they were called again around 4:45 p.m. when Sponaugle opened fire with a .22 semiautomatic target pistol.

Officers killed Sponaugle and a pit bull they say he unleashed on them in a shootout. No officers were injured.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

LOUISA, Va. — 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.