I got the call from one of my bosses and I could tell from the tone in her voice it was a breaking news event.
Something somebody just learned in the newsroom where they needed by contacts to confirm.
I heard her talking to somebody else before talking to me.
All I could make out were two words: “trooper shot.”
My heart sank for a split second before she directed her attention to me.
She explained the newsroom had a report of a “trooper involved” shooting in Rockbridge County.
The trooper wasn’t shot, but had shot the suspect.
I was relieved because I didn’t want to go through the same thing we did two weeks ago at Virginia Tech.
Some of my sources are telling me the trooper was very lucky in this situation—- if you want to call it luck.
I’ve heard police officer friends of mine before, friends who’ve been thrust into very dangerous situations, talk about how their training takes over in those types of situations.
Investigators haven’t said for sure, but I suspect that’s what happened here.
I’ve covered numerous officer involved shootings over the years, and this one has all the signs of a “clean shoot.”
In other words, that the officer acted in self defense.
I say that judging from several factors; including media accessibility, what investigators are saying after the shooting, etc.
The commonwealth’s attorney’s office will ultimately determine the facts in the case and then make a decision.
It just goes to show how dangerous a police officer’s line of work can be.
My chances of coming home to my wife and two boys at night are pretty good.
As we’ve seen the past couple of weeks, some officers clock in to work and never come home.
It’s one of those few professions where you earn respect by just showing up for work.
Posted by Scott Leamon at 07:14 PM. Filed under: leamon •
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