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SALTVILLE, Va. (WJHL) – A man is dead after an early morning officer-involved shooting Thursday, according to the Smyth County Sheriff’s Office.
According to a release, the sheriff’s office received a 911 call at approximately 12:41 a.m. of a person with a gunshot wound in the 4200 block of Bluegrass Trail in Saltville.
Smyth County deputies, Smyth County Fire/Rescue and Nebo Fire/Rescue were dispatched to the scene. The Saltville Police Department, Chilhowie Police Department and Virginia State Police (VSP) also responded to the initial call.
The sheriff’s office said a Smyth County deputy was confronted by a man armed with a handgun. That man was shot by the deputy and did not survive.
Sheriff Chip Shuler has turned the incident over to the Virginia State Police (VSP) Bureau of Criminal Investigations. The deputy involved was placed on administrative leave with pay, pending the VSP investigation, as part of Smyth County Sheriff’s Office policy.
News Channel 11 reached out to the VSP. A state police spokesperson said no additional details will be released.
This is a developing story.