A policeman from a town in Virginia was shot and killed by a driver during a traffic stop before he could get out of his patrol vehicle, officials said.
Officer Dominic “Nick” J. Winum, 48, was shot dead in the city on Friday afternoon, Stanley Police Chief Ryan Dean said in a statement.
The media reported that Winum was shot by Dakota G. Richards, 29, before he could get out of his patrol vehicle. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Virginia State Police told the media that Richards ran away, but was later found hiding in a barn. The suspect reportedly made a “threatening move” and was shot and killed by police.
It was unclear what led to the traffic stop.
Winum has been with the Stanley police since 2016, Dean said. Prior to that, the Virginia State Police said he had been a state police officer.