Virginia
South Carolina man pleads guilty in federal court to fatally shooting Virginia police officer
ABINGDON, Va. — A South Carolina man pleaded guilty to federal charges Wednesday in the shooting death of a police officer in southwest Virginia in 2021.
Michael Donivan White, 36, of Cross, South Carolina, had already pleaded guilty to first-degree murder charges in state court.
The federal counts include drug charges and causing the death of a person with a firearm.
The plea deal requires the judge to sentence White to a term of 40 to 100 years. His previous plea deal, entered May 30, also calls for a sentence of 40 to 100 years.
Lawyers for White did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment Wednesday night.
In court papers, White admitted that he shot Big Stone Gap police officer Michael Chandler, 29, who was responding to a call just outside the town limits on Nov. 13, 2021.
Prosecutors said White shot Chandler eight times from inside his car when the officer approached after White tried to flee and became stuck in grass. Prosecutors said drugs were in the car.
Chandler died that evening. White was later arrested at a motel in Kingsport, Tennessee.
Virginia
Man wanted in North Carolina murder investigation arrested in Grayson County, Virginia
GRAYSON COUNTY, Va. (WSET) — A man wanted in a North Carolina murder investigation was arrested in Grayson County, Virginia, on Friday, authorities said.
53-year-old Matthew Jared Vukmer was taken into custody without incident around 5:30 p.m. in the Little River section of the county, according to the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies say that on Friday, around 2:30 p.m., a call came in from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina about a suspect wanted for first-degree murder who was possibly in the Little River area of Grayson County.
SEE ALSO: 2 arrested in separate DUI incidents during Henry County traffic stop, sheriff says
Investigators say they immediately began preparing search warrants, and the sheriff’s office, along with the Virginia State Police, launched drones to survey and monitor the suspect’s activity.
Authorities said that after they determined the wanted individual, Vukmer, was at a location on Windwood Lane, deputies were sent to the address. Lt. Jody Poole and Deputy Adam Bolling then took Vukmer into custody without incident.
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Vukmer was charged with being a fugitive from justice and is being held at the New River Valley Regional Jail pending extradition to North Carolina to face murder charges, according to authorities.
Virginia
Flags at half-staff in Virginia to honor Rev. Jesse Jackson
ARLINGTON, Va. (7News) — Flags are flying at half-staff in Virginia on Saturday in honor of the life of Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.
Governor Abigail Spanberger ordered that the flags be flown at half-staff on all state and local buildings and grounds in the Commonwealth in honor of Jackson. The civil rights leader died on Tuesday. He was 84.
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“We honor his decades of service as a minister, community leader, and international civil rights leader,” Spanberger wrote in the order.
The flags will remain at half-staff until sunset.
Jackson’s family confirmed he died at home, surrounded by family. He was battling the neurodegenerative disorder Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).
He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Lavinia Brown, and their five children: Santita Jackson, former Rep. Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.), Jonathan Luther Jackson, Yusef DuBois Jackson, Esq., and Jacqueline Lavinia Jackson, Jr.
ALSO SEE | Rev. Jesse Jackson, civil rights icon and longtime King protege, has died at 84
Jackson was known as a protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., and helped lead the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).
Jackson was with King during his assassination at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis in 1968.
Virginia
Northern Virginia security company helps evacuate nearly 4,000 amid Iran war
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (7News) — As the war in Iran stretches toward a week, evacuations out of the region continue, including efforts coordinated by a Northern Virginia-based security company that has helped move nearly 4,000 people out of the Middle East.
Global Guardian has assisted people in evacuating at least 15 countries through a combination of charter and commercial flights, according to Colin O’Brien, the company’s deputy vice president of operations. Most of them are Americans, he said.
ALSO SEE | Middle East expert says uncertain future in Iran could be just as dangerous
“The primary objective is to get them out of the Middle East, to move them to places where they have freedom of movement, where there are pre-existing commercial airline options — so places like Western Europe, Turkey, Cairo, where I have major functioning international airports that have yet to be affected by this crisis,” O’Brien explained. “And then from there, we can take our time. We can get the right plane ticket, and we can send them home.”
Meanwhile, airports, including Dulles, are experiencing some flight cancellations and delays from the Middle East.
7News was at baggage claim as people returned to America, greeting loved ones with hugs.
One man who wished to remain anonymous spoke with 7News while waiting for his daughter and grandchildren to return from the Middle East, where his son-in-law is stationed in the military.
READ ALSO | Capitol Hill grapples with Iran strategy, war powers
He said he is grateful to have them home, but it’s bittersweet because his son-in-law is still over there amid the conflict.
A woman who arrived Thursday afternoon told 7News she’s grateful to be away from potential danger but feels sorry for those who can’t leave.
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