- 1
- 2
- 3
- next
- | single page
UPDATE: Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at 3:30pm
We're now getting a better idea what happened before a man was shot and killed by a State Trooper in Rockbridge County Tuesday morning.
State Police today identified the man as 39-year-old Wayne Lyall of Clintwood. Vinton police say that they believe Monday night, Lyall stole a white, 2005 Chevy Malibu from the parking lot of the DK Tobacco Store on Hardy Road. Officers say the car's owner left his keys in the ignition.
The vehicle was reported stolen to police, and an alert was sent out to other local jurisdictions.
Then Tuesday morning, Trooper RW Miller says he saw a vehicle matching that description near Natural Bridge. He approached the car, and officers say he got into a struggle with Lyall. They say Lyall pulled a gun on Miller, and then Miller shot him. Trooper Miller is now on paid administrative leave.
Vinton police say Lyall was also suspected of entering an area ABC store and stealing a bottle of alcohol. That happened a few hours before the car theft.
_______________________________________
Virginia State Police identified the state trooper and suspect in a shooting in Rockbridge County yesterday. Trooper R.W. Miller shot 39-year-old Wayne S. Lyall of Clintwood after a struggle between the officer and Lyall. Police say Lyall grabbed a gun on the front seat of his car and the trooper shot him
Trooper Miller found a vehicle stolen from a Vinton convenience store in the parking lot of the Glasgow Livesaving and First Aid Crew parking lot. State police say Miller thought the car was unoccupied but as he approached the car he saw Lyall. There was struggle between the trooper and Lyall. State Police say Lyall then grabbed a handgun from the front seat of his car and the trooper fired at the suspect. Lyall died at the scene. Trooper Miller was not injured.
State police continue to investigate.
Here is the full news release from the Virginia State Police:
RICHMOND – Virginia State Police are investigating a police-involved shooting that occurred in Rockbridge County Tuesday (Dec. 20, 2011).
The incident began Tuesday morning when Virginia State Police were notified by the Town of Vinton Police of a reported stolen vehicle possibly being in the area of Natural Bridge. Troopers responded to the area to search for the white 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. The Malibu had been stolen from the parking lot of a local convenience store Dec. 19, 2011.
At around 10 a.m., Trooper R.W. Miller located the stolen car in the parking lot of the Glasgow Lifesaving and First Aid Crew Station #2. The trooper pulled up to the vehicle, which appeared to be unoccupied. As the trooper approached the stolen car, he spotted a male subject inside. A struggle ensued between the two. The male driver then grabbed a handgun laying on the front seat of his car and was turning to point the gun at the trooper when the trooper fired at the suspect. The suspect, Wayne S. Lyall, 39, of Clintwood, Va., died at the scene.
Lyall was transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Roanoke for examination and identification.
Trooper Miller was not injured in the incident. In accordance with Virginia State Police policy, the trooper has been placed on paid administrative leave pending investigation.
The Virginia State Police Salem Field Office’s “Police Shooting Investigative Team” is continuing its investigation into the incident.
_______________________________________
A State Police trooper shot and killed a man in Natural Bridge Tuesday morning.
Investigators say this stemmed from a stolen vehicle out of Vinton.
The shooting happened in the parking lot of the Glasgow Life Saving and First Aid Crew Station #2.
That is located across the street from the Natural Bridge Visitors Center and the hotel.
The shooting happened around 10 a.m. when authorities had information that a stolen 2005 Chevy Malibu could be in the area.
We're told the trooper was driving by when he spotted the car sitting in the parking lot.
Investigators tell us what happened next.
"Approached the vehicle, tried to get the subject out of the vehicle, struggle ensued, a gun was pulled by the subject in the vehicle and the trooper shot him," said State Police Captain George Austin.
The person the trooper shot was pronounced dead at the scene. His body has been taken to the medical examiner's office in Roanoke.
The names of the person killed and the troopers are not being released at this time.
We know the trooper was not hurt. He is a seven-year veteran of the force.
State Police say he will be put on paid administrative leave pending an investigation which is standard procedure.
Here is the news release from Virginia State Police:
Virginia State Police are investigating a police-involved shooting that occurred in Rockbridge County Tuesday (Dec. 20, 2011).
