Trooper, suspect dead in bus station shooting

Richmond, Va. — A gunman fatally shot a Virginia state trooper Thursday at a busy bus terminal in the capital city of Richmond before he was shot dead by two other troopers, police said. Two civilians were also shot but were expected to recover.

Trooper Chad Dermyer, 37, died after being shot multiple times, according to Virginia State Police Superintendent Col. Steven Flaherty.

State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said the civilians’ injuries were not life-threatening.

A small army of law enforcement officers in tactical gear and dozens of cruisers and emergency response vehicles flooded to the station, located in an area that includes a minor league baseball stadium and a variety of commercial establishments and restaurants.

Najee Wilson, 18, of Newark, N.J., said his bus was pulling up to the station when he heard three gunshots and saw people running out of the building.

“We heard a lot of people screaming,” Wilson said. “It definitely was a scary experience.”

City Councilwoman Reva Trammell called it “the saddest day in the city of Richmond.”

“State troopers doing their job and innocent people shot,” she said. “Why? This was a senseless act.”

About 50 officers from the Richmond Police Department went to the bus station to assist state police, Chief Alfred Durham said.

He said law enforcement officers have become the target of “folks out there with evil intentions.”

“It’s unfortunate these are the days we’re living in, where folks want to harm law enforcement,” Durham said.

“We just want our officers to end their shifts and to go home to their families.”

Greyhound issued a statement Thursday afternoon saying the Richmond bus station would be closed “until further notice.”