A call went into Botetourt County dispatch at 1:28 a.m. last Wednesday, May 20 from a citizen reporting a domestic disturbance in the 1600 block of Pico Road, Buchanan.
Deputies responding to the scene received information that threats of violence were made toward a citizen and law enforcement and a firearm had been discharged. Upon arriving at the scene, the deputies were told the alleged suspect had left the scene in a white Ford pickup truck. The suspect vehicle was located in the 1500 block of Davis Run. As the deputy approached in his vehicle, he was fired upon by the suspect, striking the deputy’s patrol vehicle multiple times.
The Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Response Team and the Virginia State Police Tactical Team responded to the scene. Deputies were able to make contact with the suspect by phone. The suspect refused to negotiate and ended the call. The negotiator attempted multiple times to re-establish communication without success.
The Botetourt Sheriff’s Office Emergency Response Team conducted a search of a wooded area near where the deputy was fired upon. Deputies discovered a 41-year-old male, who was unresponsive and had suffered an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound.
No officers discharged their weapons, and no officers were injured in the incident.
The body was transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Roanoke for examination, an autopsy and positive identification.
This investigation remains ongoing at this time.
