Virginia officer fatally shot at traffic stop in Stanley – NBC4 Washington

A police officer in a Virginia city was shot dead by a driver during a traffic stop before he could get out of his patrol vehicle, authorities said.

Officer Dominic “Nick” J. Winum, 48, was shot and killed in the town on Friday afternoon, Stanley Police Chief Ryan Dean said in a statement.

Media reported that Winum was shot by Dakota G. Richards, 29, before he could get out of his patrol vehicle. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Virginia State Police told media that Richards escaped but was later found hiding in a barn. The suspect allegedly made a “threatening move” and was shot dead by police.

We did not know what had led to the stop of the traffic.

Winum had been with Stanley Police since 2016, Dean said. Prior to that, Virginia State Police said he had been a State Soldier.