Authorities expanded their search Sunday for a Virginia man accused of shooting two sheriff’s deputies during a welfare check, killing one officer and injuring another
The shooting occurred Friday night in Carroll County after deputies responded to a home following a request from a concerned family member for a welfare check. According to authorities, Puckett allegedly opened fire when deputies made contact with him. Both officers returned fire, but Deputy Logan Utt was fatally wounded. A second deputy was struck in a ballistic vest and survived. Officials said the deputy remains in stable condition.
Federal law enforcement agencies have announced a combined $60,000 bounty for data resulting in the capture of a fugitive accused of killing a Virginia law enforcement officer and wounding another. The FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service pooled resources to establish the bounty, with the FBI providing $50,000 and the U.S. Marshals contributing $10,000 to track down 55-year-old Michael Timothy Puckett.
Puckett is currently being sought on homicide charges relating to an attack on local law enforcement. Investigators state that Puckett is approximately 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighs roughly 190 pounds, has brown eyes, and is either bald or has brown hair. Authorities caution that he remains at large and “should be considered armed and extremely dangerous.”
Sheriff Kevin Kemp identified Deputy Logan Utt as a military veteran who joined the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office in 2023. Kemp described him as a dedicated public servant, husband and father, calling him a hero whose commitment to the community would not be forgotten.
State and federal investigators have significantly widened the geographic scope of their tracking efforts, noting that the suspect was recently observed across state lines in North Carolina. The Virginia State Police are currently managing the investigation into the shooting. Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger publicly stated, “My office is closely monitoring this tragic incident,” while urging the community to report any potential sightings to the state police.
Federal agents are requesting that homeowners and commercial operators throughout the region examine their external security systems, hunting trail monitors, and wildlife cameras for any signs of the fugitive. Local residents have also been strictly advised to keep their vehicles locked, secure outbuildings, and ensure garage doors are fully shut to deny the fugitive any resources that could assist him in evading law enforcement.
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