Prosecutors Building Case Against Suspect In Police Officer’s Death

Prosecutors in Wise County Virginia say they are building a case against an individual they suspect of shooting and leaving for dead a Big Stone Gap police officer Saturday morning. Officer Michael Chandler was responding to a call for a welfare check at an address when he was shot and left for dead in a ditch in front of that home. Officer Chandler died from his injuries Saturday evening at an area hospital…it was his 29th birthday.

Saturday afternoon, a man was arrested at a motel in Kingsport for parole violation but is suspected in officer Chandler’s killing. Prosecutors say they are not releasing the name of the suspect to protect the integrity of the case as this is an active murder investigation. Charges could be filed in the coming days or weeks.

Numerous law enforcement agencies in east Tennessee including Cocke County and Jefferson County posted tributes to Officer Chandler on their Facebook pages over the weekend.