PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. – *UPDATE* – As of 12:20 the Virginia State Police have 19 year old Matthew Bernard in custody. In a release from the Pittsylvania County Public Safety twitter feed – “The situation in the Keeling area is now under control and the individual that was being searched for has been located by law enforcement. Keeling Drive will remain closed for a short time. We appreciate the public help during this time.” We will have more information as it becomes available.
(Original Post) Pittsylvania County authorities are investigating a triple homicide in the Keeling community and are looking for the shooter.
Sheriff Mike Taylor confirmed that the 911 Center received a call at 8:07 a.m. from a neighbor who visited and found a dead body in a driveway of a Keeling home. Two additional bodies were found inside the residence. Two females and a small child are dead. Their names have not been released.
State and local police search for 19-year-old Matthew Bernard in connection with the slayings. There has been a heavy police presence in the area of 1949 Keeling Drive, where the bodies were discovered. Police are in the area with weapons drawn as they search for Bernard. He is armed with a rifle.
A portion of Keeling Drive was closed as investigators canvassed the community. Crime scene tape was placed around a residence in the 19-hundred block of Keeling Drive.
Schools in the area were placed under lock down as a precautionary measure.
The Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police, Danville Police and Pittsylvania Public Safety are all on scene. A command post has been established and armored vehicles and SWAT teams are assisting in the search.
The Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s office sent out a reverse 911 to Keeling residents this morning within a seven mile radius of 1949 Keeling Drive, stating:
“Citizens in the Keeling area are asked to be on the look out for Matthew Bernard. White male, 19 years old, last seen wearing a white tee shirt and blue jeans. He is armed with a rifle and considered very dangerous. He was last seen in the area of 1949 Keeling Drive in the Keeling community. If you see this individual do not contact him but call the Pittsylvania County 911 center immediately. Citizens in this area should exercise caution and be on the lookout for this individual until further notice.”