Crazed naked suspect allegedly kills family of Rays minor leaguer Blake Bivens
A crazed triple homicide suspect ran naked through a Virginia town while trying to evade police on Tuesday, according to local reports and video of the chase.
The suspect, 19-year-old Matthew Bernard, allegedly killed his mother, sister, niece and a dog Tuesday morning in Pittsylvania County, near the border with North Carolina, WZTV reported.
Bernard’s sister was married to minor league baseball pitcher Blake Bivens, who played for a team in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, ESPN reported.
After the killings, Virginia state police began searching for Bernard, whom authorities said was believed to be armed with a rifle and dangerous.
Police caught up with the suspect Tuesday afternoon as local media outlets were preparing for a press briefing about the deadly incident.
Video captured by television crews shows Bernard, completely naked, run toward police officers as they try to mace him and subdue him by hitting him with batons.
Undaunted, he then attacks a church groundskeeper who was getting into his car, the video shows.
Police arrested him after he ran toward a road block and a police dog pounced on him, according to the video.
Bernard was being treated in a local hospital, according to WZTV.
