A Virginia deputy sheriff who was killed in the line of duty returned home Monday.
Law enforcement officers and community members from across the region gathered to pay their respects after Smyth County Sheriff’s Deputy Hunter Reedy was shot and killed last week.
According to police, the 27-year-old father of three died on Friday after being shot by a suspect during a traffic stop.
When Reedy was brought to Marion from the Roanoke coroner’s office, a memorial service was held, and community members gathered on bridges and streets to pay their respects.
“Any time a police officer is killed in our country, it’s tough,” said Lt. Bryan Bard of the Wytheville Police Department. “It’s always a tragedy, but here in Southwest Virginia, it’s not every day for us. We live in small communities, we go to the same police academies and we all know each other. Even though we work for different departments, we’re a very close-knit police community and it’s really tough on everybody.”
Police said Timothy Wayne Goodman, 65, of North Carolina, was charged with aggravated murder in connection with Reedy’s death. He was also charged with four counts of attempted aggravated murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Another officer, Michael Fedorchuk, was injured in the shooting. Smyth County District Attorney Phillip Blevins said Fedorchuk was flown by helicopter to a nearby hospital where he underwent emergency surgery.
Blevins said: “Fedorchuk is expected to make a full recovery.”
Reedy’s funeral is scheduled for later this week.
