Greyhound shooting: Police officer killed at Virginia bus station

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The shooting happened during a police training exerciseImage source, AP
Image caption,

The shooting happened during a police training exercise

A gunman shot and killed a state trooper inside a Greyhound bus station in the US state of Virginia.

Several Virginia state troopers were conducting a training exercise at the station when the gunman approached the trooper and shot him in the chest.

Other troopers, who were in uniform at the time, then fired back and killed the gunman.

Two bystanders were hurt in the shooting and taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The Virginia State Police did not identify the gunman.

The Greyhound bus station closed after the shootingImage source, AP
Image caption,

The Greyhound bus station closed after the shooting

Najee Wilson, 18, of New Jersey was waiting for a bus when he heard gunshots.

"We heard a lot of people screaming," Mr Wilson told the Associated Press. "It definitely was a scary experience."

The Greyhound station in Richmond is just west of the city's downtown area.

Greyhound issued a statement on Thursday afternoon, saying the Richmond bus station would be closed "until further notice".

Police officers from multiple agencies flooded the area after the shooting. The gunman's weapon was recovered, police said.

Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham said law enforcement officers have become targets.

"It's unfortunate these are the days we're living in, where folks want to harm law enforcement," Mr Durham said.