Two sheriff’s deputies were struck by gunfire during a fatal shoot-out with a wanted man at a Virginia truck stop.
On Friday, March 28, police in Greensboro, N.C., informed the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) in Virginia of a potential location of Edmond Johnson, who was reportedly involved in a shooting in the area, according to the CCSO and Virginia State Police.
The CCSO soon located the 29-year-old Louisiana native — who also was wanted in Washington County, Md. — at Love’s Truck Stop in Lambsburg, Va., thanks to his tractor-trailer, which was parked at the truck stop off of Interstate 77, officials said.
After deputies with the CCSO responded to the scene, they found Johnson in his vehicle, and when Johnson “eventually exited the tractor-trailer, he exchanged gunfire with the deputies,” according to Virginia State Police.
Love’s Travel Stop in Lambsburg, Va.
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During the altercation, two deputies were shot, and Johnson was fatally struck, officials said.
The deputies who were struck by gunfire were taken to nearby hospitals. As of Saturday, March 29, both deputies are now in stable condition, Carroll County Sheriff Kevin Kemp told PEOPLE in a statement.
The identities of the injured officers have not been publicized, and “the investigation of the incident has been turned over to the Virginia State Police,” according to Kemp, who added that he has “no further comment at this time.”
As news of the March 28 shoot-out and the CCSO deputies’ hospitalization spread, law enforcement officials in neighboring areas shared messages of support.
The Henry County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) extended “thoughts and prayers” to the deputies in a post on Facebook.
“We ask our community to join us in lifting them up in prayer — for a swift and full recovery, and for strength and comfort for their families and colleagues during this difficult time,” the HCSO wrote, in part. “When one agency hurts, we all feel it. We stand with Carroll County — today and always.”
The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) also offered its “thoughts and prayers” in a Facebookpost, writing, “We are deeply saddened to hear about the officer-involved shooting that resulted in two of their deputies being shot.”
“The bravery and dedication of law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line every day for our safety cannot be overstated,” the BCSO wrote. “We stand in solidarity with our fellow deputies as they navigate through this challenging situation. Please join us in sending prayers and positive thoughts for a swift recovery for the injured deputies, strength to their families and colleagues as well as strength and support to all those affected by this incident.”
