May 30--A grand jury has indicted a Town of Culpeper Police Department officer in the fatal February shooting of a Culpeper woman.
Daniel Harmon-Wright, 32, of Gainesville, has been charged with murder, malicious shooting into an occupied vehicle, malicious shooting into an occupied vehicle resulting in a death, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, according to a statement released Tuesday evening by the Virginia State Police.
The incident occurred around 10 a.m. on Feb. 9, when Harmon-Wright, a five-year veteran of the CDP, encountered Patricia A. Cook, who was in a Jeep Wrangler in the 300 block of North East Street in Culpeper. During the encounter, Cook, 54, of Culpeper, was shot by the officer. Cook died at the scene.
The State Police initially said that Cook trapped the officer's arm in the SUV's window and tried to drive away. However, at least one witness contradicted the official version of events.
Gary Cook, the deceased's husband, filed a $5.35 million wrongful death lawsuit against Harmon-Wright earlier this month, alleging negligence and neglect by the officer in the shooting of his unarmed wife.
The Virginia State Police conducted the investigation at the request of the Culpeper Police Chief Chris Jenkins.
The special investigative grand jury was convened at the request of the special prosecutor appointed to the case, Fauquier County Commonwealth's Attorney Jim Fisher.
"Without commenting on the particulars of the investigation, over the course of the month of May, this special investigative grand jury heard from more than 45 witnesses, received more than 100 separate exhibits and were presented with reams of documentary evidence," Fisher said.
Broad Run attorney Daniel L. Hawes, a pro-gun advocate and blogger, has agreed to represent Harmon-Wright. Earlier this month, the Culpeper Star-Exponent reported that Hawes has blogged that the officer "never claimed to have been dragged" and that the allegations in the civil complaint were done to put the other side on the defensive.
Also this month, another woman came forward, claiming that Harmon-Wright, who changed his surname from Sullivan in 2010, roughed her up during a domestic violence call at her Culpeper residence in 2008. The accuser in that case, Jeanette Price, said she filed a formal complaint with the police. But Price said this month that police officials have refused to disclose what action, if any, was taken in that case to discipline Harmon-Wright.
Fisher and the Virginia State Police have planned a news conference to discuss the case at 8:45 tonight.
Copyright 2012 - The Daily Progress, Charlottesville, Va.
