Massacre gunman's home fears

Police say Christopher Speight, 39, killed his sister, brother-in-law, niece, nephew and four other people in Appomattox, Virginia, early on Tuesday before firing at a police helicopter, hiding in the woods and finally surrendering nearly a day later.

Speight had struggled since his mother died from brain cancer in 2006, his uncle, Thomas Giglio has revealed. His father had abandoned them 30 years ago and he and his mother were very close.

Lawyer Harry Devening, who handled legal matters for Speight’s family, said Speight had an apparent learning disability and history of mental problems and “ran away” from his sister’s Georgia home for several days during a breakdown in 2007.

But Mr Giglio said despite his problems the family had no reason to suspect Speight might turn violent.

Speight is charged with one count of murder and will likely face more charges. Seven bodies were found in and around the home he shared with Lauralee and Dwayne Sipe, including theirs. An eighth person was found barely alive along the road and died in hospital.

Police have not offered a motive but David Anderson, who owns a market where Speight sometimes worked as a security guard, said he feared the Sipes would kick him out.

The other victims included Morgan Dobyns, 15, Lauralee Sipe’s daughter from a previous marriage, and Joshua Sipe, four, Lauralee and Dwayne’s son.

Also killed were Morgan’s friend, Emily Quarles, 15, and her boyfriend, Ronald “Bo” Scruggs, 16, along with Emily’s parents, Karen and Jonathan Quarles.