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Gunman who shot Virginia state trooper had 143 rounds of ammo in his luggage Gunman who shot Virginia state trooper had 143 rounds of ammo in his luggage
(about 2 hours later)
RICHMOND — The gunman who fatally shot a Virginia State Police trooper inside a Greyhound bus station Thursday had 143 rounds of ammunition in one of three bags he was carrying, the state police superintendent said Friday.RICHMOND — The gunman who fatally shot a Virginia State Police trooper inside a Greyhound bus station Thursday had 143 rounds of ammunition in one of three bags he was carrying, the state police superintendent said Friday.
The superintendent, Col. W. Steven Flaherty, said investigators do not know why the shooter, James Brown III, 34, attacked the trooper. He said Brown shot Chad P. Dermyer from inches away with a .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun that was legally purchased by someone else 13 months ago.The superintendent, Col. W. Steven Flaherty, said investigators do not know why the shooter, James Brown III, 34, attacked the trooper. He said Brown shot Chad P. Dermyer from inches away with a .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun that was legally purchased by someone else 13 months ago.
State and federal officials are tracing how Brown, who has a lengthy arrest record and two felony convictions in his home town of Aurora, Ill., acquired the Beretta and did not say where or by whom it was first bought. Flaherty said two partially loaded 30-round magazines and two partial boxes of ammunition were found in one of Brown’s three bags. State and federal officials are tracing how Brown, who has a lengthy arrest record and two felony convictions in his home town of Aurora, Ill., acquired the Beretta pistol and did not say where or by whom it was first bought. Flaherty said two partially loaded 30-round magazines and two partially filled boxes of ammunition were found in one of Brown’s three bags.
“It is unfortunate he was able to get a gun based on his history,” the superintendent said. He said he did not know what prompted Brown to shoot, although it might have been “maybe, ‘they’re going to find this ammo in my bag.’ ” But, Flaherty said, “We don’t know at this point, and we may never know.” “It is unfortunate he was able to get a gun based on his history,” Flaherty said. He said he did not know what prompted Brown to shoot, although his thinking might have been, “ ‘They’re going to find this ammo in my bag.’ ” But, Flaherty said, “we don’t know at this point, and we may never know.”
Two troopers shot and killed Brown after he shot Dermyer. Two troopers fatally shot Brown after he shot Dermyer.
The fatal encounter at the bus station left friends and colleagues grieving an officer they recalled as a resolute public servant who never lost a foot chase, was always sharply uniformed and carried a wide smile even after back-to-back 16-hour days. The fatal encounter at the bus station left friends and colleagues grieving for an officer they recalled as a resolute public servant who never lost a foot chase, was always sharply uniformed and carried a wide smile even after back-to-back 16-hour days.
Dermyer was a 37-year-old husband and father of two children, served in the Marine Corps and worked for two other police departments before joining the Virginia State Police in 2014. Dermyer, a 37-year-old husband and the father of two children, served in the Marine Corps and worked for two other police departments before joining the Virginia State Police in 2014.
“There are a lot of dark corners in the city, and we would make it a point to go to those dark corners to help make the city a safe place,” said Cyndi Grace, who partnered with Dermyer in Newport News and left the department in 2011. “There are a lot of dark corners in the city, and we would make it a point to go to those dark corners to help make the city a safe place,” said Cyndi Grace, who partnered with Dermyer in Newport News, Va., and left the department in 2011.
He rose rapidly as a trooper from patrol assignments to the counterterrorism and criminal interdiction unit, which he recently joined. Dermyer and 16 other troopers and agents were participating in a training exercise for the unit at the bus station when he was killed. He rose rapidly as a trooper from patrol assignments to the counterterrorism and criminal interdiction unit, which he joined recently. Dermyer and 16 other troopers and agents were participating in a training exercise for the unit at the bus station when he was killed.
Dermyer gained recognition for his diligence on a routine traffic stop last year that led to the discovery of the remains of a small child hidden in the vehicle’s trunk, closing a case that Flaherty said otherwise might have gone unsolved.Dermyer gained recognition for his diligence on a routine traffic stop last year that led to the discovery of the remains of a small child hidden in the vehicle’s trunk, closing a case that Flaherty said otherwise might have gone unsolved.
The trooper also had a share of social-media fame after rescuing a wayward dog loose on a highway in an escapade that went viral.The trooper also had a share of social-media fame after rescuing a wayward dog loose on a highway in an escapade that went viral.
[Troopers save dog on interstate][Troopers save dog on interstate]
In Newport News, Grace said she and Dermyer often dissected their encounters to learn from mistakes. “He is not one you’d think that someone would be able to get the drop on,” she said. But “as tragic as this is and as horrific as it is, I know he died doing exactly what he loved. He is a hero in every sense of the word.”In Newport News, Grace said she and Dermyer often dissected their encounters to learn from mistakes. “He is not one you’d think that someone would be able to get the drop on,” she said. But “as tragic as this is and as horrific as it is, I know he died doing exactly what he loved. He is a hero in every sense of the word.”
Funeral plans were not complete as of Friday.Funeral plans were not complete as of Friday.
At a vigil Friday night, a huge blue ribbon was displayed on the digital screen in the center of the VCU Siegel Center arena. Many in attendance carried single white roses. At a vigil Friday night, a huge blue ribbon was displayed on the digital screen in the center of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center arena. Many in attendance carried single white roses.
Lt. Col. Bob Northern, the deputy superintendent at Virginia State Police, greeted people as they entered the arena. Dermyer is the 62nd Virginia trooper killed in the line of duty in the department’s 84-year history. Lt. Col. Bob Northern, the state police’s deputy superintendent, greeted people as they entered the arena. Dermyer was the 62nd Virginia trooper killed in the line of duty in the department’s 84-year history.
His shooting occurred about 2:45 p.m. Thursday during an exercise on how to identify suspicious activity, as part of training for the interdiction and counterterrorism unit. His shooting occurred about 2:45 p.m. Thursday during an exercise on how to identify suspicious activity, part of the training for the interdiction and counterterrorism unit.
Flaherty said Brown was in the terminal restaurant just off the main entrance with his bags near the restaurant entrance. Surveillance footage and other information, Flaherty said, show Brown left the restaurant, walked toward his luggage and then “turned away from the luggage.” Flaherty said Brown was in the terminal restaurant just off the main entrance with his bags near the restaurant entrance. Surveillance footage and other information, Flaherty said, indicate that Brown left the restaurant, walked toward his luggage and then “turned away from the luggage.”
Dermyer approached and “within seconds, Brown turned back toward Chad. . . . He turned into him and fired multiple shots.” Flaherty said the trooper “was struck multiple times, and he went down.” Two plainclothes troopers shot Brown, who stumbled back into the restaurant and collapsed.Dermyer approached and “within seconds, Brown turned back toward Chad. . . . He turned into him and fired multiple shots.” Flaherty said the trooper “was struck multiple times, and he went down.” Two plainclothes troopers shot Brown, who stumbled back into the restaurant and collapsed.
Flaherty said it appeared Brown was traveling alone on a ticket he bought in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., with stops in Richmond and the District before ending in Chicago. Flaherty said it appeared that Brown was traveling alone on a ticket he bought in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., with stops in Richmond and the District before ending in Chicago.
On Thursday, Flaherty said that Dermyer had begun to question Brown, possibly because his actions appeared suspicious. But on Friday, the superintendent said the encounter occurred faster than initially believed. He said Dermyer might have engaged Brown “in small talk to try and find out what he was doing. The two of them weren’t together more than a few seconds.” On Thursday, Flaherty said Dermyer had begun to question Brown, possibly because his actions appeared suspicious. But on Friday, the superintendent said the encounter occurred faster than initially believed. He said Dermyer might have engaged Brown “in small talk to try and find out what he was doing. The two of them weren’t together more than a few seconds.”
Two female passengers who were in the terminal were wounded in the exchange of gunfire. One was a 21-year-old from New York, who was grazed by a bullet, Flaherty said, and the other was a 47-year-old from North Carolina who was wounded. One of the injured has been identified as a female member of the track team for New York’s Binghamton University, who was released from the hospital on Friday. Two female passengers in the terminal were injured in the exchange of gunfire. One is a 21-year-old from New York, who was grazed by a bullet, Flaherty said, and the other is a 47-year-old from North Carolina who was wounded. One of the injured has been identified as a member of the track team for New York’s Binghamton University. She was released from the hospital on Friday.
Investigators said they are continuing to look into Brown’s criminal past. Aurora Police Lt. Jeff Wiencek said Brown “was very familiar with the Aurora Police Department and vice versa.”Investigators said they are continuing to look into Brown’s criminal past. Aurora Police Lt. Jeff Wiencek said Brown “was very familiar with the Aurora Police Department and vice versa.”
Records with the Kane County Circuit Court show Brown had been arrested numerous times in Aurora. He was sentenced to 2  1/2 years in prison in 2011 for aggravated domestic battery involving a pregnant woman who had taken out a restraining order against him, court records show. He was sentenced to six years in prison in 2003 on a heroin charge, and in 2001 he was charged with intent to commit murder. He pleaded guilty to a lesser felony, court records show, and was sentenced to four years in prison for discharging a firearm. Records with the Kane County Circuit Court indicate that Brown had been arrested numerous times in Aurora. He was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison in 2011 for aggravated domestic battery involving a pregnant woman who had taken out a restraining order against him, court records show. He was sentenced to six years in prison in 2003 for a heroin conviction. In 2001, he was charged with intent to commit murder. He pleaded guilty to a lesser felony, court records show, and was sentenced to four years in prison for discharging a firearm.
Dermyer was a Michigan native who joined the state police after serving as an officer in Newport News, from 2003 to 2007, and in Jackson, Mich., from 2008 to 2011.Dermyer was a Michigan native who joined the state police after serving as an officer in Newport News, from 2003 to 2007, and in Jackson, Mich., from 2008 to 2011.
Stacy Kelly, assistant chief of the Newport News police, remembered Dermyer as an officer who had a reputation for being a “high-producing officer” who was also fair. Stacy Kelly, assistant chief of the Newport News police, remembered Dermyer as having a reputation as a “high-producing officer” who was also fair.
“He was so approachable,” Kelly said. “He was one of the guys that would go out there and talk to people and put them at ease and didn’t have any problems interacting with the community.”“He was so approachable,” Kelly said. “He was one of the guys that would go out there and talk to people and put them at ease and didn’t have any problems interacting with the community.”
Dermyer, a Marine like his father, developed “the core value of being a servant,” said Newport News police Sgt. Brad Churchill, a friend and former colleague. Dermyer, a Marine like his father, developed “the core value of being a servant,” said Newport News Sgt. Brad Churchill, a friend and former colleague.
“When he wasn’t dedicating himself to the job, he dedicated himself to his family” and his wife, Michelle, and their daughter and son, Churchill said. “He was always talking about how proud he was of his kids.”“When he wasn’t dedicating himself to the job, he dedicated himself to his family” and his wife, Michelle, and their daughter and son, Churchill said. “He was always talking about how proud he was of his kids.”
Julie Tate, Magda Jean-Louis and Perry Stein contributed to this report.Julie Tate, Magda Jean-Louis and Perry Stein contributed to this report.