Rockbridge Sheriff: Officers find Hall in attic of church with apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound

ROCKBRIDGE CO. (WSLS 10) - Rockbridge Co. Sheriff C.J. Blalock said officers found the man suspected of shooting at a deputy dead in the attic of a church Monday.

Officers from multiple agencies surrounded Redeeming Life Ministries Monday in Rockbridge County Monday afternoon. State police suspected 35-year-old William Evan Hall could be inside the church. After entering the church, they found Hall dead with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in the attic.

Sheriff Blalock said none of his officers fired their weapons while inside the church. They are investigating the gunshot wound Hall suffered to his head as self-inflicted.

Federal, state and local law enforcement were looking for Hall, who shot at a deputy shortly after midnight Saturday, December 5. According to Sgt. Rick Garletts with Virginia State Police, Hall was believed to have at least one firearm in his possession. Sheriff Blalock said a gun was found near Hall's body in the church.

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State police said shortly after midnight Saturday morning, a Rockbridge County Sheriff's Deputy attempted to stop a vehicle for speeding on Route 60. The deputy activated his emergency lights and the vehicle's driver, Hall, pulled over and stopped.

During the course of the traffic stop, Hall fired at the deputy at least two times. The deputy's vehicle was struck. Fortunately, the deputy was not harmed.

Hall then sped away from the scene. A pursuit was initiated by the deputy, but was discontinued when the responding deputies lost sight of Hall's vehicle.

The sheriff's office later located Hall's abandoned vehicle off of Route 501.

State police did not confirm if Hall was the only person inside the vehicle. Law enforcement did not release the identity of the deputy involved.

During the course of the investigation, Rockbridge County deputies responded to a call of a break-in at a residence in the 100 block of Bennetts Run Road that occurred at approximately 6:45 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 5. Evidence at the scene indicates Hall stole clothing and a firearm from the residence.

Due to the search for Hall, Buena Vista and Rockbridge County Public Schools closed Monday, December 7.

The decision to close school was announced early Monday morning.

The investigation into this incident resulted in the following felony warrants issued against Hall:

• Attempted Capitol Murder
• Use a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony
• Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
• Shoot at a Law Enforcement Vehicle
• Eluding a Law Enforcement Officer
• He is also wanted on a felony warrant out of Lynchburg for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Hall was from Abingdon, Va., but was living in the Lynchburg and Roanoke areas for the last several weeks.