Carroll County deputy killed, another wounded; armed suspect at large
Michael Timothy Puckett
Update, Sunday 9:15 p.m.: The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Michael Puckett has been apprehended in Surry County, North Carolina.
CARROLL COUNTY, Va. - Authorities are searching for Michael Timothy Puckett after a Carroll County deputy was killed, and another deputy was injured during a welfare check Friday night.
What we know:
The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were sent to 13658 Fancy Gap Highway at 9:26 p.m. Friday after receiving a request from a family member to conduct a welfare check.
When deputies arrived, two deputies made contact with a man identified as Michael Puckett, according to the sheriff’s office.
During the encounter, officials said Puckett opened fire on the deputies. Deputies returned fire.
Both deputies were struck by gunfire.
One deputy suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead. The second deputy was struck in his ballistic vest and was receiving medical evaluation, according to the sheriff’s office. Officials said the second deputy was reported to be in stable condition.
Deputy Sheriff Logan Utt. (Photo via the Carroll County Sheriff's Office Facebook page).
The Associated Press reported the slain deputy was identified by Sheriff Kevin A. Kemp as Deputy Logan Utt, a military veteran who joined the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office in 2023.
The suspect
Dig deeper:
Officials said Puckett fled the scene on foot following the shooting; the U.S. Marshals Service said he's wanted for the homicide of a law enforcement officer.
Photo courtesy of Carroll County police.
Officials said Puckett should be considered armed and extremely dangerous.
Updated search information
The Wytheville Police Department reported Sunday at 1:50 p.m. that Michael Puckett was spotted on a wildlife game camera in Surry County, North Carolina, at 6:56 a.m. on Greenhill Road, north of Mount Airy.
Authorities said a massive, multi-agency operation is currently underway in Cana, Virginia, involving the Virginia State Police, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, ATF, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office and North Carolina law enforcement agencies.
Photo courtesy of Carroll County police.
Residents in Carroll County, Virginia, and Surry County, North Carolina, are being urged to lock their vehicles and homes and remain vigilant.
What they're saying:
Virginia State Police said it is investigating the officer-involved shooting portion of the incident.
"VSP would like to express their condolences to the family of the slain deputy as well as the Carroll County Sheriff's Office," Virginia State Police said in a statement.
Sheriff Kevin A. Kemp said the investigation remains active and ongoing, and additional information will be released as it becomes available.
The Wytheville Field Office of the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation is continuing to lead the investigation into the officer-involved shooting component of the case.
What we don't know:
Authorities have not released details about what led up to the gunfire beyond the welfare check.
What you can do:
Anyone who sees Puckett is urged not to approach him and to call 911 immediately with location information.
Additional contact information provided by authorities includes Division Four Dispatch at (540) 444-7788 for tips or leads.
The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to his arrest.
The FBI has since announced a separate reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to Puckett’s location and capture.
The Source: This article was written using information from the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia State Police, the U.S. Marshals Service and The Associated Press.