Two Officers Shot Dead, Two Wounded, Suspect Killed
Man armed with rifle, fired at four police officers from mountain, killed one
Buchanan County Deputies Eric Dewayne Rasnake, 32, and Shane Earl Charles, 25, were shot multiple times after responding to a "larceny in progress" call at a salvage business in Vansant, Virginia. The wounded deputies were able to crawl to a nearby residence for cover.
Deputies Cameron Neil Justus, 41, and William Ezra Stiltner, 46, were shot with the same high-powered weapon after they rushed to the scene to help their fallen comrades, but they died at the scene.
On Monday, Virginia State Police named Randy Gilbert Newberry as the suspect in the shootings. Officials say the 52-year-old was hiding on a ridge when he fired at officers responding to both crime scenes.
After the shootings, police found Newberry about a quarter of a mile up the road from the salvage business, talking on a cell phone.
Police said they repeatedly asked Newberry to "put his hands up and get on the ground," but the suspect ignored their orders and instead aimed a handgun at officers.
Newberry was then shot and killed.
"These two men gave their lives for what they dedicated their lives to doing," Sheriff Roy Foster said. "I appreciate every single one of you that was there fighting for the lives of your fallen brothers," he said."It's been about 40 years since Buchanan County lost a man in the line of duty and to lose two more and to have two more seriously injured in the same day is overwhelming."
Rasnake was shot three times, according to Foster, and Charles is on a respirator. Both remain hospitalize and in critical condition.
"Our prayers go out to their families to the hope that they will recover and maybe one day return to wear the uniform that we so proudly wear," a tearful Foster said.
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