A suspect in the shooting of two people at a veterans cemetery was found dead after exchanging gunfire with police, authorities said Friday in Bear, Delaware. A female victim who was shot reportedly died at the scene.
It was not immediately clear whether the suspect was killed by police. Authorities said the body was found in a wooded area where the shootout took place.
Police said an 85-year-old woman was pronounced dead at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, according to the CBS affiliate in Philadelphia. Her 86-year-old husband was transported to a local hospital and was in critical condition, the CBS station reported.
After the shootings at the cemetery, the sniper, who had a rifle, fled into nearby woods, according to reports.
Reports said ATF special agents, state police and first responders pursued the suspect.
Dozens of shots were reportedly heard in the wooded area behind the cemetery, next to Brennan Estates, a residential area.
Delaware State Police said it received the initial call about 10:15 a.m. Friday and that one or more people had been shot.
Police radio reported one patient was rushed from the cemetery by ambulance, USA Today reported.
The Shore News Beacon reported heavy police activity in the area about 10:20 a.m.
Around that time authorities alerted residents to shelter in place.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing police with guns drawn.
The suspect was allegedly seen carrying a rifle with a scope, according to the report.
The cemetery is located on Chesapeake City Road in New Castle County.
Reports say the shooting happened on cemetery grounds near a mausoleum.
A woman who works at the cemetery called her daughter and said two people were dead, but she didn’t know who they were.
Rich Barak of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution contributed to this report.
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