An incident outside the 76 gas station just outside the Spotsylvania Towne Centre on Saturday night was the result of a deputy-involved shooting during the apprehension of a wanted suspect.
According to Virginia State Police Sergeant Brent Coffey, deputies from the Spotsylvania County Street Crimes Task Force were seeking to apprehend Lawrence, D. Toler II, 37, of Woodford, Virginia during a traffic stop on the 3000 block of Plank Road.
As deputies approached the suspect, Toler backed his vehicle into a deputy’s cruiser in an attempt to flee. Toler is alleged to then have pointed a firearm at a deputy, which resulted in multiple deputies discharging their weapons at the suspect in return.
This gunfire resulted in wounds to both Toler as well as an uninvolved bystander, who was present outside the gas station at the time of the incident. At that time, deputies began administering medical aid to both individuals.
Toler was transported to Mary Washington Hospital and is being treated for life-threatening injuries. Deputies located a firearm inside of his vehicle. Coffey says he is currently wanted out of Chesterfield, Virginia for multiple felony warrants.
The bystander, an adult male, was treated for minor injuries and released.
No deputies were injured during the incident.
The investigation remains ongoing, headed by the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation (Culpeper Field Office) at the request of the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office.
The Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office could not be immediately reached for comment.
This story is developing and will be updated with details as they become available.
Correction: “This exchange of gunfire” has been revised to “This gunfire.”
