Virginia police officer shot to death on his 29th birthday



A Virginia police officer was shot to death on his 29th birthday while performing an early-morning welfare check. The suspected killer was later apprehended in another state.

Big Stone Gap Police officer Michael Chandler conducted a welfare check at a house in southwest Virginia around 4 a.m. on Saturday. The home was reportedly supposed to be abandoned, but he encountered "at least one individual" who shot Chandler.

A Wise County Sheriff's Office deputy arrived on the crime scene and found Chandler unconscious in a ditch along the driveway to the residence, officials said.

"His patrol car and another vehicle were both at the scene, but there was no other person at the scene," said Virginia State Patrol public information officer Corinne Geller, according to WTVR.

Chandler was airlifted to Johnson City Medical Center in Tennessee, where he died hours later on his 29th birthday.

"It is with a heavy heart that I must inform our community of the line of duty death of Officer Michael D. Chandler," Big Stone Gap police Chief Stephen Hamm said in a statement, according to WDBJ.

"His battle to survive today was truly miraculous. But, he succumbed to his injuries around 7:00 p.m. this evening at the hospital with his family at his side," Hamm continued. "Mike's loss will be felt by our town and across all of Wise County. Not only did he serve as an officer with the Town of Big Stone Gap Police Department, but also as a volunteer with the Big Stone Gap Fire Department."

"Please keep his family in your prayers tonight, as this should have been a day to celebrate his 29th birthday - not a day to mourn his passing," he concluded.

Following an "extensive" manhunt by local, state, and federal law enforcement, the suspect was apprehended 40 miles away. The Kingsport Police Department's Patrol Division, Criminal Investigations Division, and SWAT Team arrested a 33-year-old Big Stone Gap male around 8 p.m. on Saturday at a motel in Tennessee. The U.S. Marshals Service, FBI, Wise County Sheriff's Office, and Bristol, Virginia Police Department assisted in the apprehension of the suspected shooter.

The suspect was being held due to probation violations from South Carolina and Virginia.

Commonwealth Attorney Chuck Slemp said he expects "charges will be placed in the coming days."

Community members who knew Officer Michael Chandler are reacting to news of the shooting.\n\nChris Holcomb says Chandler was called to his residence in the same neighborhood just last week.\n\nMore \n\nhttps://www.wjhl.com/news/local/vsp-releases-details-regarding-big-stone-gap-officer-involved-shooting/\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/E2ZecRcMGA

— Amy Cockerham WJHL (@AmyWJHL) 1636865992

Police investigate attempted murder of Maryland cop: Nearly 100 shots fired during Independence Day block party that preceded attack



The Wicomico County Sheriff's Office in Salisbury, Maryland, is conducting an investigation into the attempted murder of a police officer, according to WBOC-TV.

What are the details?

The incident took place early Monday morning when a suspect reportedly fired on an occupied patrol vehicle in Salisbury. Authorities said that a deputy inside the vehicle came under fire while responding to reports of shots being fired.

The station reported that the investigation of the incident revealed that a "large block party" celebrating Independence Day drew at least 200 attendees.

As the party progressed, authorities said an altercation broke out, prompting gunfire.

"An investigation of this scene revealed evidence that more than 100 shots were fired, although [authorities believe] most of them were celebratory for the holiday," the outlet reported.

Several homes and vehicles in the area were reportedly struck by gunfire, but there were no reports of injuries.

WBOC reported, "It is presumed the gunshot that impacted the marked patrol vehicle in the driver's door was fired out of a sedan that was leaving the area upon the deputy's arrival."

Additional officers responding to the scene recalled seeing a suspect fleeing from the area and attempted to stop the driver.

Officers attempted to catch the vehicle, but it turned off its lights, according to the station. Though the driver apparently intended to go incognito, officers were able to track the vehicle to an area 7-Eleven. Upon realizing they were caught, the suspects abandoned the vehicle and began running away. Deputies were able to detain two of three suspects.

In a statement on the attack, Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis said, "This deputy is an awesome deputy. He is a young deputy, very impressionable, less than a year on the job. He is a very valued member of our patrol force, and thank God he was not struck by gunfire."

The deputy was uninjured in the incident.

The two suspects initially taken into custody were released due to a lack of evidence.

Lewis added, "It pained us to cut them loose, but we recognized that we had insufficient evidence to charge them. With the collection of DNA and ballistic evidence at the scene, and the processing by the Maryland State Police Crime Lab, we are going to try to put the pieces of this puzzle together."

The investigation into the incident continues.

Authorities ask anyone with insight on the attack contact Crime Solvers at (410) 548-1776. Those with information could qualify for a cash reward.

Breaking: Two police officers shot during violent protests in Louisville over Breonna Taylor



The Louisville Metro Police Dept. said that two officers had been shot during the violent protests in Louisville, Kentucky, over the charges announced against one officer related to the death of Breonna Taylor.

Black Lives Matter protesters immediately denounced the announcement of charges against only one of the officers involved the controversial shooting death that happened during a police raid in March.

Police initially said that one officer had been shot but offered few details about the incident.

Per an @LMPD spokesman just now, an officer has been shot. https://t.co/nkIRABHIj0
— Ben Tobin (@Ben Tobin)1600907991.0

Later they confirmed that two officers had been shot.

Louisville Metro Police confirm that TWO officers have been shot and were transported to Louisville University Hospital.
— Charlie Gile (@Charlie Gile)1600909595.0

Protesters took to the streets to demonstrate against the grand jury decision. Reporters and others on social media documented small fires being set off and firecrackers being fired off during many of the gatherings.

Reporters in the vicinity said that firecrackers were set off at about the same time as the gunshots.

Here's more about the incident:

Police officer shot in Louisville: Reportwww.youtube.com