Murder at the Homestead in VA mountains ... employee shoots supervisors

Murder in the Alleghany Mountains of western Virginia....

[Update Monday, March 23, at 6:30 pm: Search for suspect continues as authorities pursue Beacher Ferrel Hackney, 59, in the mountains of Bath County and beyond. Public schools in Bath and Alleghany counties were closed as a precaution with a killer on the loose.]

See additional media links and photos of Homestead below.

The Homestead Resort was busy this past Saturday night ... the band played ... guests dined ... the kitchen staff was busy. Then shots rang out as a resort employee allegedly shot and killed two supervisors in the kitchen around 8 pm.

According to the Associated Press:

Suspect Beacher Ferrel Hackney fled the scene after the shootings, and authorities were using tracking dogs, a helicopter and road checkpoints in their hunt, the sheriff’s office said.

Hackney was supervised by victims Ronnie Stinnett and Dwight Kerr, and all three worked in a department responsible for washing dishes, picking up trash and cleaning the kitchen. Stinnett and Kerr were shot with a semiautomatic handgun, Norfleet said.

The suspect was described as a loner who had worked at the resort since 2003 but who did not associate with co-workers.

Even the Anchorage Daily News has picked up on the story, publishing a story and photo of Beacher Ferrel Hackney:

The 59-year-old Hackney is suspected of shooting Ronnie Stinnett and Dwight Kerr, who worked with him washing dishes, picking up trash and cleaning. The shooting happened in the resort's kitchen about 8 p.m. when guests were eating dinner.

Hackney has been charged with murder and an arrest warrant was issued, Armstrong said.

April 3, 2009: Where is The Homestead Murderer?

Photos of the Homestead:
- Nooks and crannies of the Homestead
- Backroads of the Homestead
- Afternoon tea
- Photos of Homestead on web
- Still snowing in Hot Springs
- Winter wonderland at the Homestead
- More Homestead Christmas photos
- It's Christmas at the Homestead

More media links:
- WHSV TV-3 (Harrisonburg)
- Charleston (WV) Gazette
- Fox Channel (D.C.)
- Richmond Times-Dispatch
- Roanoke Times
- Daily Press
- Virginia Lawyers Weekly