A Big Stone Gap man is in police custody tonight after an extensive search and investigation by local, state and federal law enforcement following the fatal shooting of a Town of Big Stone Gap Police Officer early Saturday (Nov. 13). Heavy police presence is reported at the Travel Inn on Lynn Garden Drive. We're told the Kingsport Police Department has one suspect in custody.
The U.S. Marshals reported earlier they were searching for a suspect involved in the shooting. Multiple law enforcement agencies have reported the officer involved in the shooting, Michael Chandler, has died from his injuries.
While on duty, Town of Big Stone Gap Police Officer Michael Chandler stopped out with an individual shortly after 4 a.m. Saturday (Nov. 13) who asked the officer to conduct a welfare check on an individual at a vacant residence in the 2500 block of Orr Street. When Officer Chandler arrived at the residence, he encountered at least one individual. It was during this encounter that Officer Chandler was shot.
A Wise County Sheriff's Office Deputy was first to arrive on scene. Officer Chandler was found lying unconscious in a ditch along the driveway to the residence. His patrol car and another vehicle were both at the scene, but there was no other person at the scene.
The officer was initially transported to Norton Community Hospital and then flown to Johnson City Medical Center.
The 33-year-old male was apprehended without incident by the Kingsport, Tenn. Police Department's Patrol Division, Criminal Investigations Division and SWAT Team shortly after 8 p.m. Saturday at the Travel Inn located in the 800 block of Lynn Garden Drive in Kingsport, Tenn. He is currently being held on probation violations out of South Carolina and Wise County, Va. Charges related to the shooting of the officer are pending at this time.
The U.S. Marshals Service, FBI, Wise County Sheriff's Office and Bristol, Va. Police Department assisted with the apprehension in Kingsport.
The investigation remains ongoing at this time, in coordination with the Big Stone Gap Police Department, Wise County Sheriff's Office and Wise County Commonwealth's Attorney Chuck Slemp.
Anyone with information related to this incident, please contact the Virginia State Police at 276-228-3131 or at questions@vsp.virginia.gov.
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