DANVILLE, Va. – Update 5 p.m. Thursday:
The officer involved in the shooting has been identified as Kayla Robinson, a two-year veteran of the Department who serves in the Patrol Division, Danville Police Department said.
Update 8:30 p.m. Tuesday:
The officer, who was shot multiple times, has been released from Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital and is back home recovering, Danville PD announced Tuesday night.
The City of Danville and the Danville Police Department are grateful to the Carilion Health System Police Department and the Roanoke Police Department, who worked to support our officer, even before arrival. We also thank all of our regional law enforcement partners, local, state and federal, who have supported our officers and agency during this difficult time
The Department wishes to thank the multitude of law enforcement partners who were present for and escorted our officer and family back home to Danville from Roanoke. In addition to Roanoke PD and Carilion PD, those agencies include SHIELD Chaplaincy, Virginia State Police, Vinton Police Department, Virginia Western Police Department, Roanoke County Police Department, Roanoke County Sheriff’s Office, Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office, Roanoke Blacksburg Public Safety, Norfolk Southern Police Department, Salem Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Roanoke Fire and EMS, Bassett Volunteer Fire Department, and others along the way.
City of Danville
Update:
A shooting in Danville involving a police officer and a suspect is currently under investigation. Both the officer and a 47-year-old male suspect exchanged gunfire on Monday, resulting in both being hospitalized. Officials report that the incident originated from a hit-and-run case linked to the suspect.
“The officer located a suspect vehicle from a previous hit-and-run incident in the parking lot of a hotel located in the 2100 block of Riverside Drive,” said Danville Police Chief Wiles.
Danville Police Chief Wiles did not specify which hotel was involved, prompting inquiries at several hotels along Riverside Drive. At the Courtyard by Marriott, two employees gave differing accounts: one confirmed the shooting occurred on the property, while the other declined to provide information.
“The officer’s investigation led to the identification of and conversation with the suspect, a 47-year-old white male who is not a resident of the Danville area,” Chief Wiles added.
The situation escalated when the officer attempted to engage with the suspect. “The suspect, without any provocation, quickly drew a firearm and began firing at the officer, striking the officer multiple times despite being wounded, the officer returned fire, hitting the suspect multiple times.”
Chief Wiles noted that responding officers provided immediate medical care to both the officer and the suspect. “The suspect was transported by EMS directly to the helipad where he was flown out for further treatment,” he said.
As for the officer, “The wounded officer is in stable condition and was transported by helicopter to the regional trauma center for further treatment.”
At this time, the names of the officer and the suspect have not been released. The Virginia State Police is now leading the investigation.
Original story:
Both an officer and a suspect were shot and injured in a shooting incident that occurred in Danville on Monday, Danville Police Department said.
DPD said a uniformed officer located a vehicle on the 2100 block of Riverside Drive on Monday afternoon that was suspected to be in connection with a previous hit-and-run incident. The officer then spoke to the suspect. During the conversation, without any provocation, the suspect drew a firearm and fired at the officer multiple times. The officer then returned fire. Both were hit multiple times by gunfire.
Authorities said the officer was transported to SOVAH Danville Emergency Department, and the suspect was taken by EMS to the helipad where he was flown out for further treatment. The officer is said to be in stable condition, and was transported by helicopter to a regional trauma center for further treatment.
Virginia State Police are investigating this incident, and the names of the officer and suspect are currently being withheld for at least 72 hours, in accordance with Danville Police Department Policy.