Officer Dominic ‘Nick’ Winum (48) has been at Stanley City Police Station since 2016, according to Police Chief Ryan Dean. Before that, Winum was a trooper with the Virginia police, which also expresses sympathy.
“It is with heavy hearts tonight that we must inform our community about the death of one of our own,” Dean announced in a Facebook post. “I know that the community of Stanley and Page County is keeping Nick and his family in their prayers during their most difficult and tragic time.”
In a subsequent statement on his Facebook page, the Stanley police station said Winum had started a stop, but before the officer could leave his patrol car, the suspect got out of his vehicle and opened fire. The shooter, identified as 29-year-old Dakota G. Richards, fled on foot in nearby forests.
Authorities pursued Richards and found him hiding in a barn; Richards ‘made a threatening move and was shot by Page County Sheriff’s deputies,’ the statement said.
Virginia police are investigating both shootings. CNN contacted the Stanley Police Department and the Virginia State Police for comment.