Wytheville post office gunman identified as Warren “Gator” Taylor, arrested after hostage standoff

Wytheville Virginia Post Office from Google Street View

Multiple sources, including WSLS, WDBJ and swvatoday.com are reporting that a man has exited the post office in a wheelchair and has been taken into custody. All indications are that it is the gunman, but authorities have not confirmed. They are currently searching the inside of the post office to make sure no one else remains inside.

UPDATE – Photo of the man in a wheelchair and great coverage I somehow missed during the course of the standoff can be seen and read over at Roanoke.com.

UPDATE – CNN is also reporting that the standoff is over claiming their source to the Wytheville mayor.

UPDATE – From WDBJ: “Police identify the gunman as Warren “Gator” Taylor from Sullivan County, Tennessee.”

WSLS reporter Ashley Roberts:

Three people have walked out of the post office. Each had their hands raised.

Police are not saying who the three people are.

A man in a wheelchair has rolled himself out into the street. The state police bomb squad robot is checking over him.

Man who came out in wheelchair now laying on ground on stomach, police are moving toward him.

Armored carrier went up to man in wheelchair with about 20 men wearing shields. Now surrounded.

State Police Sgt. Mike Conroy says 3 people who came out were hostages.

Officers are securing building to make sure no one else inside.

Man in wheelchair believed to be suspect, no name yet.

SWVAToday.com:

Police have confirmed that three hostages were released and that the gunman has apparently surrended. Officers, though, haven’t been inside the post office to see if anyone else is inside.

“We’re treating everything with an ounce of caution because we don’t know what he had,“ Sgt. Conroy said.

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