High-speed pursuit leads to manhunt in Blue Ridge; one juvenile in custody, second suspect still at large
At approximately 11:45 p.m. June 12, a deputy with the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office patrolling the Blue Ridge area observed a vehicle traveling 87 mph in a 60-mph zone. When deputies attempted a traffic stop, the driver fled and ultimately crashed the vehicle into a barrier at the Sheetz construction site along Route 460.
Two suspects exited the vehicle and fled on foot, dropping a stockless rifle. Deputies pursued the armed individuals until they entered a wooded area, at which point the pursuit was halted due to officer safety concerns. A Tactical K-9 Tracking Team was quickly assembled and deployed to the area, focusing on the Rainbow Forest and Knollwood neighborhoods. Additional firearms were found discarded along the suspects’ flight path.
Residents were notified through our Code Red public alerting notification system, and multiple sightings were reported overnight – many of which were confirmed through residential doorbell camera footage. The vehicle involved was later determined to have been stolen out of Campbell County.
During the search, at approximately 6:31 a.m. on June 13, a vehicle was reported stolen from the Knollwood area, believed to be connected to the ongoing investigation.
At approximately 9:10 a.m., deputies apprehended a 16-year-old male of Lynchburg in a wooded area near Gospel Light Baptist Church off Alternate 220. One suspect remains at large and is believed to be involved in the theft of the second vehicle. A representative from the Sheriff’s Office noted Monday that they do not believe the subject is still in the Botetourt area.
The Sheriff’s Office continues to work to locate the remaining suspect. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are working with surrounding jurisdictions.
The Sheriff’s Office thanks residents for their vigilance and assistance during this incident and encourage anyone with additional information or who may have witnessed the incident to contact Detective Sgt. Mioduszewski at 540-928-2263.
This information is based on a preliminary and ongoing investigation, which continues to evolve as detectives interview witnesses, review physical and electronic records, and analyze forensic evidence. The department’s understanding of the facts and circumstances may change as additional evidence is collected and analyzed.
~ Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office
