Va. Police Officer Killed in Struggle with Assault Suspect

A Virginia police was fatally shot in a struggle with a suspect in an assault late Friday.

Wintergreen Police Officer Mark Christopher "Chris" Wagner II was responding to the report of a man assaulting two others at a home when the shooting happened, WRIC-TV reports. When Wagner reached the scene, the two victims had fled after calling the police, and the officer found the suspect in a nearby wooded area.

That's when a struggle broke out between Wagner and the suspect, and Wagner was shot and killed. The Virginia State Police said Wagner's gun was recovered at the scene and that an investigation was ongoing.

Wintergreen police and Nelson County sheriff's deputies apprehended the suspect. He was taken to the hospital, but no details were released about the nature of his injuries.

According to an online post by Police Chief Dennis Russell, Wagner, 31, had been with the department since August 2020 and had previously worked at the Massanutten Police Department for seven years. He was the Wintergreen Police Department's TASER and BolaWrap instructor.

"Chris was dedicated to his job and whenever called for extra duty he was ready, willing and able," Russell wrote. "His love for the badge was evident and his commitment to the community was undeniable."