3 leave Va. post office after hostage standoff; 1 man in wheelchair being searched

3 out of Va. post office after hostage standoff

WYTHEVILLE, Va. — At least three people have left a small-town Virginia post office including a man in a wheelchair who is being searched.

The three left the building in Wytheville (WITH-vill) after authorities ordered a man holding hostages to surrender.

Authorities are not saying if one of the people was the suspect.

Authorities had been negotiating with the unidentified suspect to release the hostages who had been held since mid-afternoon Wednesday.

Shots were fired earlier, but there were no reports of injuries. Relatives say the hostages have been able to contact them by phone.

Wytheville is a town of about 8,500 in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

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

WYTHEVILLE, Va. (AP) — At least two people have walked out of a small-town Virginia post office with their hands raised after authorities ordered a man holding hostages to surrender.

Authorities are not saying if one of the people was the suspect or hostages.

Authorities had been negotiating with the unidentified suspect to release the hostages who had been held since mid-afternoon Wednesday.

Shots were fired earlier, but there were no reports of injuries. Relatives say the hostages have been able to contact them by phone.

Wytheville is a town of about 8,500 in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains.