A Danville police officer and a suspect in a hit-and-run crash sustained multiple gunshot wounds Monday when the suspect unprovoked, began firing at the officer during questioning.
Officer Kayla Robinson was shot when she was interviewing a suspect at a hotel in the 2100 block of Riverside Drive, according to police.
Robinson was transported to the SOVAH Danville Emergency Department and then flown to Carilion Hospital in Roanoke for treatment. She was released Tuesday night and is recovering at home.
The suspect, Lucas Jason Degier, 47, of Wilmington, N.C., sustained serious injuries in the officer-involved shooting and was flown to Duke University Hospital for treatment of his wounds.
Degier is currently being held in North Carolina but will be extradited to Virginia to face charges and stand trial for the shooting. He has been charged with attempted capital murder.
According to police, “during the encounter, the suspect, without any provocation, quickly drew a firearm and began firing at the officer, striking the officer multiple times. The officer then returned fire, striking the suspect multiple times.”
Responding officers provided immediate medical care to the officer and the suspect after the shooting.
The incident is under investigation by Virginia State Police.
Robinson serves in the patrol division and has been with the Danville Police Department for two years. When Robinson recovers and returns to work, she will be placed on administrative assignment until the investigation is complete.
At the completion of the investigation, the findings will be turned over to the Danville Commonwealth Attorney’s office for adjudication.
This was the second officer-involved shooting in the state this week. On Friday night, two officers in Virginia Beach were shot and killed during a traffic stop.
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Crystal Graham
