A US woman has fatally shot a man who opened fire on a crowd of people with a semi-automatic rifle in Charleston, West Virginia.

Dennis Butler, a 37-year-old with an extensive criminal history, was killed after he targeted a group of around 40 people attending a birthday party.

Police spokesman Tony Hazelett said the woman's quick reaction saved lives and may have prevented a mass shooting.

It comes amid a national debate over guns after a school shooting in Texas.

Butler had driven by the area earlier on Wednesday evening when he was warned to slow down because children were playing.

He returned armed with an AR-15-type rifle and opened fire from his vehicle on the birthday-graduation party outside the apartment complex in the city.

Mr Hazelett told a news conference that the woman who fired back did not have any law enforcement background. She has not been identified.

"She's just a member of the community who was carrying her weapon lawfully," he said. "And instead of running from the threat she engaged with the threat and saved several lives."

The woman remained at the scene after the shooting, and is co-operating with investigators.

Charges will not be filed against her, police added.

Butler was found dead at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds, police said.

Mr Hazelett said it is not yet clear how Butler obtained the weapon - which he was not legally allowed to carry as a convicted felon.

The shooting comes after a teenage gunman killed 21 people at a Texas primary school with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle that had been purchased legally.

The attack, America's worst school shooting in a decade, reignited the debate over private gun ownership, which is enshrined in the US Constitution.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-61615236

There's need for serious gun control in US because it seems americans love their guns more than themselves

Now that is happening in the so called saner clines, imagine Nigeria allowing her citizens access to firearms;too bad.

You really do not get the drift of arguments around gun control especially in the USA. The message in this article is simply that “because citizens are able to carry a concealed weapon, they are able to defend themselves. Reason why the woman was able to ‘save the day’

Brings a different question to mind though, how many of these supposedly ‘independently executed mass shootings’ are independently executed? Could the NRA be sponsoring mass shootings to push its agenda?

Kazeem47:
Now that is happening in the so called saner clines, imagine Nigeria allowing her citizens access to firearms;too bad.

USA na useless place walai, if no be Sapa ,I swear many of our people won't even like to relocate to that place

Man go just wake up to go him hustle, one stupid white guy go just come open fire ,kill you for nothing

Timoleon:
You really do not get the drift of arguments around gun control especially in the USA. The message in this article is simply that “because citizens are able to carry a concealed weapon, they are able to defend themselves. Reason why the woman was able to ‘save the day’

Brings a different question to mind though, how many of these supposedly ‘independently executed mass shootings’ are independently executed? Could the NRA be sponsoring mass shootings to push its agenda?

Doesn't matter the argument.

Fact remains, there is an epidemic of gùn related deaths in the US.

The day Nigerians are given the right to carry fire arm, is the day you find out how sick people are in this country.

zimdante:
The day Nigerians are given the right to carry fire arm, is the day you find out how sick people are in this country.

If it should be legalize in Nigeria, just forget it bro, many will die unnecessarily .
You look at someone twice and the next thing you know is that you're already gunned down.

You tell someone that his football team is a shit and the next you know is you're gone already.

People wey go remain for this country no go reach half of the normal population if gun should be legalize.

Na all these vehicle inspection officers such as vio, frsc, etc I pity most, na for drivers to dey kill them once dem stop drivers.

robinso01:


If it should be legalize in Nigeria, just forget it bro, many will die unnecessarily .
You look at someone twice and the next thing you know is that you're already gunned down.

You tell someone that his football team is a shit and the next you know is you're gone already.

People wey go remain for this country no go reach half of the normal population if gun should be legalize.

Na all these vehicle inspection officers such as vio, frsc, etc I pity most, na for drivers to dey kill them once dem stop drivers.

Hahahaha , naso

O

Awesome......

But then, if there was serious gun control, this might not have even happened...... Just saying....... I could be wrong though.....

Aswear these are crazy times and unimaginable things are happening. Imagine picking a weapon to start killing innocent people just because you are asked to drive carefully.

We also need guns here in Nigeria to curb situations like these. If you know say me sef hold Kala e go make u no wan cross my lane anyhow

Every day terrorists dey roam about with assort rifle for yeye US yet some lazy free money loving yoots dey say dem wan japa go US. In sane countries, nobody dey wake up every day to go kill lttle children yet una go dey debate am. US no be sane country and anyone wey wan japa dia dey insane.

Las las na bodybag dem go return d japa crew. shiorr

Kazeem47:
Now that is happening in the so called saner clines, imagine Nigeria allowing her citizens access to firearms;too bad.

You can own firearms in Nigeria.

Too many psychos in America.

Nowhere is safe ohhhhhhhhh.

Even inside Church/Mosque people die.

Kazeem47:
Now that is happening in the so called saner clines, imagine Nigeria allowing her citizens access to firearms;too bad.

Imagine everyone in borno, katsina,, banue carrying gun i don't think bandits will attach anyhow

USA, a country filled with Lunatics.

Only God can judge us now

Biden dem are seriously trying to have their way with this Gun Control of a thing.

Unfortunately for them all, Americans love their guns.

Another Condolence visit by Mr President is Loading....

President Biden is now Mourner in Chief...

No longer Commander in Chief....

Irrespective of NRA and anti-gun group the bottom line remains that no media house has tagged the shooting from the elementary school and this one as a terrorist attack.

Our own local news media should start doing the needful and tag it as a terror attack rather than parroting whatever the Western media dishes out.

Gun is like pure water sachet in America

Timoleon:
You really do not get the drift of arguments around gun control especially in the USA. The message in this article is simply that “because citizens are able to carry a concealed weapon, they are able to defend themselves. Reason why the woman was able to ‘save the day’

Brings a different question to mind though, how many of these supposedly ‘independently executed mass shootings’ are independently executed? Could the NRA be sponsoring mass shootings to push its agenda?

How would mass shootings, which always trigger public outrage against the proliferation of firearms help the NRA agenda in anyway?

Secondly what do you mean by sponsor? Does a lone gunman require sponsorship?