Four Dead After Armed Confrontation at Burning Va. Home

HAMPTON, Va. -- Police fired on a man on the roof of a burning Ravenscroft Lane house Wednesday morning after they discovered a woman on the street suffering gunshot and stab wounds who told them other family members were inside the home.

The man on the roof and the woman who was injured both died, along with another woman and a child found inside the home, said Cpl. Jason Price, police spokesman.

Police were called a few minutes before 4 a.m. to the first block of Ravenscroft, Price said. When officers arrived, they found the woman in the street, suffering life-threatening injuries. She told them there were other family members were inside the home.

As officers approached the home and realized it was on fire, they encountered the man on the roof and exchanged gunfire with him, Price said. The man died and the officers were unharmed.

The woman found on the street, who also suffered burn injuries, was taken to a hospital where she died. Firefighters found the other two people inside the home.

Firefighters remained on the scene at 5:30 a.m. putting out hot spots at the home, which Price said had significant damage.

Police and fire investigators were on the scene. No other details were immediately available.

Ravenscroft Lane is located between Pembroke Avenue and West Queen Street near Interstate 664.

Copyright 2012 - The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service