Three dead in Marine base shooting

A suspected gunman was shot dead at a Marine base in Virginia after two others were killed.

Police said one person was shot dead at 11pm local time yesterday, which led to a standoff between authorities and the suspect, who was barricaded in barracks at the base.

The authorities entered the barracks early today and found the suspect dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound along with a second victim.

No names were immediately released but Lt Agustin Solivan said the suspect and both victims were Marines. Authorities believe the suspect was a staff member at the officer candidate school at the base, Solivan said.

Solivan said the shooting was an isolated incident and authorities were confident there were no other casualties. The base was put on lockdown after the shooting but the lockdown was lifted early Friday.

The base, which is about 37 miles south of Washington, is also home to the FBI’s training academy.

Lt Solivan could not say what prompted authorities to enter the barracks.