Va.: Manhunt underway for suspect suspected of killing sheriff’s deputy
OAN Staff Jenna Lee
3:12 PM – Saturday, May 30, 2026
Law enforcement officials have launched a massive manhunt in Virginia for a suspect accused of killing a sheriff’s deputy and wounding another during a welfare check Friday night.
Deputy Logan Utt was fatally shot after officers responded to a family member’s request to check on a residence at approximately 9:26 p.m. on Friday evening, according to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.
“One deputy sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased. The second deputy was struck in his ballistic vest and is currently receiving medical evaluation and is reported to be in stable condition,” said the sheriff’s office in a news release.
The suspect, identified as Timothy Michael Puckett, remains at large. Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are aggressively searching for him throughout the Virginia-North Carolina border region. Investigators stated that Puckett fled the scene immediately following the shooting, prompting the U.S. Marshals Service to offer a $10,000 reward for information leading to his capture.
According to records from the Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information system, Puckett has a lengthy criminal history in the nearby Patrick County. In 2016, he was convicted on seven counts involving weapons and explosives offenses, including possession of explosive materials, altering the serial number on a firearm and possession of a sawed-off shotgun. He served an eight-month jail sentence before the remainder of his 41-year sentence was suspended.
More recently, on June 2, 2025, Puckett was arrested in Patrick County on charges of arson, manufacturing a firebomb and possession of an explosive by a convicted felon. A pretrial hearing for those pending charges is scheduled in Patrick County Circuit Court on August 17th. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether those prior charges are related to Friday night’s shooting.
The community and law enforcement family are mourning the loss of the fallen officer.
“Today, Carroll County has lost a hero, and a family has suffered an unimaginable loss,” Kemp said. “Please keep his wife, children, family, friends and fellow deputies in your thoughts and prayers,” wrote Sheriff Kevin A. Kemp.
“My office is closely monitoring this tragic incident. I encourage anyone with information on the suspect’s whereabouts to contact Virginia State Police. My thoughts are with the deputy’s family and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office as we work through this awful situation,” Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) said in a statement to X on Saturday.
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