State Police: Wythe County Sheriff’s Deputy Injured; Suspect Deceased

FORT CHISWELL, Va. – A Wythe County Sheriff’s Deputy is being treated for serious injuries Wednesday morning after being shot by an armed robbery suspect. The sheriff’s deputy was transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment of the non-life threatening injuries. The armed robbery suspect is deceased.

The incident began at approximately 12:18 a.m. Wednesday (Nov. 14) when the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office responded to an emergency call for an armed robbery at a hotel in the 2500 block of East Lee Highway near Exit 80 off Interstate 77/Interstate 81. The robbery suspect had left the scene by the time deputies and Virginia State Police troopers arrived at the hotel.

While searching the immediate area for the suspect, a sheriff’s deputy and trooper located him at approximately 12:40 a.m. sitting inside the Greyhound bus stop building in the 900 block of Max Meadows Road. Upon being approached by the deputy and trooper, the adult male suspect began firing at the officers. The officers retreated outside into the parking lot and exchanged fire with the suspect as he continued shooting at them.

Rescue was immediately summonsed for both the suspect and deputy. There were no other injuries reported during the incident.

The suspect died at the scene. His remains have been transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Roanoke for examination, autopsy and positive identification. Two handguns belonging to the suspect were recovered at the scene.

Both the shooting and armed robbery remain under investigation at this time.

In accordance with Virginia State Police policy, the trooper has been placed on administrative leave pending the ongoing investigation.