Man dies after altercatiion with WC Deputies.

This may be posted some where. But this is what i read on the Times News.

Two Wise County deputies are on administrative leave pending the outcome of a Virginia State Police investigation into the shooting death of a Kingsport man and the wounding of his cousin at a convenience store on the outskirts of Big Stone Gap early Thursday.

Wise County Commonwealth's Attorney Chad Dotson said the two cousins "interjected" themselves into a situation where Sgt. Andrew Drake McNally and Deputy John Patrick Oliver Yost were serving a felony warrant about 12:30 a.m. on a female in the parking lot of the Double Kwik Market next to Powell Valley High School.

Dotson said Jonathon Kirby Willis, 39, 1045 Union St., Kingsport, and his cousin, Bruce Edwin Willis, 51, 4317 McKinney Road, Norton, were in close proximity to the female's arrest and chose to insinuate themselves into the situation, although as far as authorities are aware the woman and the cousins were not acquainted.

The woman is a witness to what subsequently occurred, Dotson said, and is not implicated in any wrongdoing other than the unrelated warrant on a charge of threatening to burn somebody's house down. Authorities initially believed the Willises were brothers but determined Thursday afternoon that the two were actually first cousins.

Dotson said McNally and Yost were gathered around the cousins' SUV awaiting a licensing and criminal check of the driver, Jonathon Willis, who was initially out of the vehicle but set events into motion by fleeing to his vehicle and attempting to drive off.

Dotson said the deputies had already determined that Jonathon Willis had a suspended driver's license, were preparing to conduct a field sobriety check on him for a possible charge of DUI, and were considering a potential public intoxication charge against his cousin.

Dotson said the records check later revealed that warrants were outstanding against Jonathon Willis for bad checks in a number of jurisdictions, including Wise and Scott counties. But before that information was relayed to the deputies, Dotson said Jonathon Willis jumped into his vehicle, started the engine, struggled against Yost to put it in gear, and a lethal series of events rapidly unfolded.

Dotson said both deputies could have been seriously hurt "or worse" by the accelerating vehicle and one - McNally - tumbled off the hood. Yost was in the process of getting dragged. Dotson said McNally, who had suffered contusions and abrasions, recovered, drew his weapon and fired into the vehicle.

Jonathon Willis was struck by three bullets - one each to the head, shoulder and hand - and Bruce Willis suffered two bullet wounds - one to the chest and the other to the hand. Also, one of McNally's bullets struck Yost in the wrist.

The SUV plowed through two other vehicles parked at the store, Dotson said, totaling one of the vehicles, before rolling down an embankment and coming to a stop nose-first in a ditch. Jonathon Willis was pronounced dead at the scene. His cousin was initially treated at Lonesome Pine Hospital and is now recovering from his wounds at Holston Valley Medical Center, Dotson said.

"In attempting to defend his partner and make a lawful arrest, Sgt. Andy McNally used lethal force," Dotson said during a press conference at the Wise County Courthouse.

As is normal during an incident in which a law enforcement officer uses his weapon, Wise County Sheriff Ronnie Oakes said both deputies are on administrative leave pending the results of the VSP investigation. He said both deputies were treated and released at LPH for their injuries.

Dotson said although officers failed to turn up any weapons on the deceased, his cousin or in the vehicle, the SUV became a weapon when Jonathon Willis chose to resist arrest and flee the scene.

"They were not armed with guns or knives or whatever, but witnesses said ... the vehicle was being used as a weapon," Dotson said.

Dotson said had McNally not used his handgun, Yost "could have been seriously hurt ... and the situation could have been worse."

Oakes said he was "grateful our deputies were not more seriously injured than they were."

Dotson said McNally has served with the Wise County Sheriff's Department for five years, and Yost about 18 months. Neither officer had been involved in a shooting before Thursday. Dotson said the last lethal force incident involving a Wise County deputy occurred in October 1997.

"I would like to express my appreciation to our local law enforcement," Dotson said. "They face dangers like this every single day, and I'm appreciative of the fact that they stand on the front lines in the protection of our community."

[PVVikeFan]

I'm glad both Deputies are safe.

This seems very political. The CWA says lethal force was needed. Yet a few years ago in a state prison, lethal force was used, and the officers using it were put on trial?
This may not become as open and clean as it sounds. Esp. since warrants were issued. What about common sense? Letting the person leave the area to make an arrest? Esp. when you already had the warrants and charges.
Im not taking sides with anyone. But when the CWA and Sheriff jump straight to what force was needed and yet the investigation is susposedly still on going?
Sorry but seems like justification already. Not saying it wasn't needed. But man when does the CWA know when lethal force is needed? Has he ever been in the situation?

[Xcat22]

Here's the article from the Bristol paper also.......

http://www.tricities.com/servlet/Sat...Variables.path

Shooting in wise leaves one dead
BY KATHY STILL
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
Jul 8, 12:00 AM EDT


BIG STONE GAP ? A Kingsport, Tenn., man was shot to death early Thursday by a Wise County sheriff's deputy after he hit the deputy with his vehicle and dragged another officer across a parking lot, police said.

The man's cousin and the other deputy also were shot during the altercation, which occurred at about 12:30 a.m. just outside the town limits, authorities said.

Jonathan Kirby Willis, 37, was pronounced dead in the parking lot of the Double Kwik market near Powell Valley High School, authorities said. Willis was shot three times, including once in the head, by Wise County sheriff's Sgt. Andrew Drake McNally, police said.

According to authorities, Willis' cousin, Bruce Edwin Willis, 50, of Norton, was shot twice by McNally and was taken to Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, police said. The cousin, who police said is expected to recover, was a passenger in the sport utility vehicle driven by Jonathan Willis.

Bruce Willis has not been charged. His account of the shootings mirrors that of the deputies and other witnesses, police and prosecutors said.

The Willis cousins were not armed, according to police. But Wise County Commonwealth's Attorney Chad Dotson said McNally's actions likely saved the life of Deputy John Patrick Oliver Yost, who police said was dragged through the parking lot by the vehicle at high speed.

"In attempting to defend his partner and make a lawful arrest, Sgt. Andy McNally used lethal force," Dotson said. "Had Sgt. McNally not fired the shots into the vehicle, Deputy Yost could have been seriously injured."

Yost, who has worked for the Sheriff's Office for 18 months, was hit in the wrist by one of the bullets McNally fired, Dotson said. Yost was treated at Lonesome Pine Hospital and released.

McNally, who has worked for the Sheriff's Office for five years, was treated for bruises after he was knocked down by the vehicle, authorities said.

Dotson and Virginia State Police officials said the shootings appear to have been justified, but both officers are on administrative leave pending an investigation.

The prosecutor said the deputies were arresting a woman on a felony warrant when the Willis cousins tried to intervene. Authorities said the men apparently did not know the woman, whose name was not released.

The deputies told investigators they smelled alcohol and tried to detain Jonathan Willis on charges of driving under the influence. Police said he tried to run over the deputies as they attempted to stop the vehicle.

The SUV crashed into two other cars, totaling one and damaging the other before coming to a stop, Dotson said.

Jonathan Willis had an earlier conviction of larceny charges and a history of running from police, Dotson said. Bruce Willis does not have a criminal record, he said.

The last time a Wise County sheriff's deputy was involved in a lethal shooting was in October 1997, when a wheelchair-bound man was killed after brandishing a weapon at officers.

Thursday's incident was the first time Yost and McNally have been involved in a shooting, Dotson said.

[centennialdawg]

I, for one, think they really need to investigate the McNally guy further. He seems to me he was just a little too willing to pull the gun and shoot. Why not try to disable the vehicle first?

Im not questioning a lot. Just why it ended up the way it did. Something seems not quite right. You have the vehicle the license plate. Yet it leads to shots fired? After warrants being served on a female, if i read it right, who you probably figure was upset.
Just seems like this went a little to far or in a way was allowed to. And not handled properly. Why try an arrest on a person you persume to be violent in a very public area? If anything. Flatten the tires, and if your fired on, then well use what force is needed.
Seems like the CWA and Sherriff, even before the investigation is over is assuming more than they should know.
And like i said im not taking anyone's side.
If any i would err on the side of law enforcement. Just seems like maybe a younger officer, handled the situation wrong, and forced an elder officer into a response.

[Rocky]

If someone was trying to run over me, and one of my buddy's had a gun handy. i would hope that they would do whatever necessary to save my life

But you already knew they were felons? Why would you risk an altercation in a public area? Don't make a lot of sense to me.
You don't risk the public in any sense of the word. Why most police officers, give up on high speed chases.
A little common sense goes a long way. They were from where and you had how long to stop them?
Seems to me like maybe someone jumped the gun. And i mean that.
Seems as if maybe someone got a little macho. This starts out over a woman, being served felony warrants, and ends up with one man dead, and three others injured?
You don't think maybe something went very wrong?
If anything do what you needed to do to detain the people. And wait for backup.
Force and common sense always wins. What if a civilian had been seriously wounded in all this mess. Who would be blamed?
I guess i question why risk that much in a public parking area. Any officer that does that and know they have felons?
You have to question their actions. Yet according to the WCA and Sheriff, there was no doubt as to the force used?
Yet neither were there. So their comments mean actually were defending our officers no matter what? So basically the one who didn't die is gonna face charges and is basically already guilty because the WCA and Sheriff conclude he is? No due process. Think Folks.

[7_32]

he'll be guilty after assessing the witnesses statements....

He's already guilty just for being with the man. Accessory to the fact or after the fact. So he's guilty no matter what.
Just seems strange. And possibly an overreation by an officer. 18 month is not that long on the law enforcement career.
But oh well. I guess we will hear it over the next coming weeks.
WC and surrounding areas= Drama Capitols of the world lately.