Maryland man charged with murder of Wintergreen officer
WINTERGREEN—A Maryland man was arrested and charged with the fatal shooting of Wintergreen Police officer M. Christopher Wagner II, Virginia State Police announced Saturday night.
Daniel M. Barmak, 23, of Towson, Md. was charged with capital murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and two felony counts of malicious wounding. Barmak is being held at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regoional Jail.
Wagner responded to an incident at a residence on Arrowood Lane where Barmak had assaulted two other adult males, according to police. The two 23-year-old males fled the residence on foot, and later were both transported to UVA Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
Wagner encountered Barmak in the woods. Barmak and Wagner struggled over Wagner's department-issued handgun, and Barmak shot and killed the officer, according to Virginia State Police. Police said that Barmak was also shot during the encounter.
The Virginia State Police press release said that Wintergreen Police and the Nelson County Sheriff's Office took Barmak into custody without further incident. Barmak was transported to UVA Medical Center for treatment of a non-life threatening injury sustained during the incident.
Police found Wagner's department-issued handgun at the scene of the shooting, according to the press release.
Wagner's remains have been transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner for examination and autopsy.
At the request of Wintergreen Police Chief Dennis Russell, the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation's Appomattox Field Office is investigating the incident.
The Nelson County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office released a statement saying it "is working with the Virginia State Police during the ongoing criminal investigation. We extend our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to Officer Wagner's family, the Wintergreen Police Department, and Wintergreen community. The Commonwealth Attorney's Office is committed to pursuing a just and legal resolve to this case."
More on the shooting: Wintergreen police officer shot and killed during confrontation
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Maryland man charged with murder of Wintergreen officer
