Overview
- Two Carroll County deputies responding to a welfare check were shot late Friday, May 29, when authorities say Michael Timothy Puckett opened fire, killing Deputy Logan Utt and wounding a second deputy who was protected by his ballistic vest.
- Local, state and federal agencies launched an intensive search that included the FBI, U.S. Marshals, ATF, DEA, Virginia State Police and North Carolina investigators while officials urged the public to check surveillance and trail-camera footage.
- Investigators traced a wildlife camera sighting in Surry County, North Carolina, and used drone tracking to locate and arrest Puckett without reported incident on Sunday night, May 31.
- Puckett was booked in North Carolina without bond pending extradition to Virginia and is reported to face an aggravated murder charge in connection with Deputy Utt’s death.
- The Carroll County community and law enforcement are mourning Deputy Utt, inquiries into the officer-involved shooting and the broader homicide investigation remain active, and officials say the capture allows prosecutors and investigators to move next steps such as formal charging and transfer.