UPDATE: Officer-involved shooting in Wythe County still under investigation

FORT CHISWELL, Va. – The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Wytheville Field Office investigation remains ongoing into Wednesday’s officer-involved shooting in Wythe County.

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 continued to exchange 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, who has been identified as Olajuwon R. Murphy, 22, died at the scene. Murphy’s remains were transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Roanoke for examination, autopsy and positive identification. Two handguns belonging to Murphy were recovered at the scene. State police have been unable to confirm an exact address for Murphy.

The Wythe County Sheriff’s Deputy who was shot during the incident is still being treated at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

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.