Coordinated Manhunt in Virginia for Armed Suspect

A coordinated manhunt is ongoing in Virginia for a suspect described as “armed and extremely dangerous.” This follows an incident on Friday night, where two deputies were ambushed during a welfare check. Tragically, one deputy was killed, and another was injured.

According to Carroll County Sheriff Kevin Kemp, Deputy Logan Utt, aged 31, lost his life in the confrontation. In an effort to capture the suspect, Michael Puckett, the U.S. Marshals Service has announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

The violent incident took place just before 9:30 p.m. local time when deputies responded to a call from the family requesting the welfare check. As they encountered Puckett, he opened fire, resulting in Utt’s death and injuring another deputy, whose life was spared by his bulletproof vest.

Although the officers returned fire, Puckett managed to flee the scene and remains at large. The sheriff’s office has advised the public to avoid approaching him and to contact 911 if they see him.

Deputy Utt was remembered as someone who was dedicated to serving his community. Sheriff Kemp noted that Utt had joined the military in 2023 and expressed his profound sorrow, stating that Carroll County has lost a hero.

Utt leaves behind a wife and children, while the injured deputy is currently in stable condition. Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has stated she is closely monitoring the ongoing situation, encouraging anyone with information on Puckett to step forward.

Virginia State Police are leading the investigation into this matter, which is still in development. Further updates will be provided as the situation evolves.