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Valmiki Deo Chandler, 18, has been identified as the man who attempted to kill an officer who responded shortly after 10 p.m. on Thursday, June 22, where there was a report of a stolen vehicle in the parking lot that had been left idling with the keys inside in the parking lot of 7-Eleven on Darbydale Avenue.
Around 11 p.m., an officer found the car occupied on Oust Lane, where contact was attempted with the driver. As the officer was at the driver’s side window, the driver sped away and made a U-turn.
As the vehicle drove directly towards the officer at a high rate of speed, the officer fired their department issued handgun before the officer was struck by the suspect vehicle.
The driver then lost control of the vehicle and crashed a short distance away before fleeing on foot. The officer sustained serious injuries and is being treated at an area hospital.
Around 1:30 a.m., during an extensive search of the area, Chandler was ultimately found and detained by members of the Special Investigations Bureau in the area of Dale Blvd and Princedale Drive. He was uninjured.
Chandler was charged with:
- Attempted murder of a law enforcement officer;
- Aggravated malicious wounding;
- Felony hit-and-run;
- Felony eluding;
- Felony grand larceny (auto theft).
"Although the accused was not struck or injured by the officer’s actions, the investigation is classified as an officer-involved shooting," a police spokesperson stated.
"The Prince William County Police Department is primary on both the criminal investigation and separate, independent administrative investigation in the incident which are both continuing."
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