A Virginia police officer was critically injured in a deadly gun battle that left a murder suspect dead Sunday.
Roanoke police were called to a report of a murder at about 11:30 a.m., WSLS-TV reports. When officers reached the scene, they found a dead man who had been stabbed multiple times.
At around 4 p.m., officers spotted a suspect in the fatal stabbping and approached him. The suspect drew a gun and opened fire.
“Shots were exchanged between several Roanoke police officers and the suspect,” said Chief Scott Booth.
An officer and the suspect were struck in the exchange. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
The officer was rushed to the hospital and underwent surgery. She was awake and alert but in critical condition.
“This is a very sad and traumatic day for our community and members of our department, but as a new chief, I have been here for about 35ish days now, to realize that I can lead a department that can take fire like that and still act heroically," said Boot. "I witnessed officers rendering lifesaving techniques to our officers and potentially saving a life there.”
Along with the officers who responded to the call, Booth praised other members of his department who came in on days off to help.
“I’m so proud to be the chief here and to see a department that’s rallying around, not just an officer that was shot in the line of duty, but the entire department and for what they’re going through,” he said.
The shooting is under investigation by the Virginia State Police.
