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The Rockbridge Report is produced under the supervision of the Dept. of Journalism and Mass Communications at Washington and Lee University.
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Lead supervisor:
Prof. Claudette Artwick

Reporting supervisors:                  Prof. Doug Cumming

Prof. Bob de Maria

Technical supervisor:

Michael Todd 

By Nazo Burgy

One shot was fired and a man was killed -- but who fired the shot? This question remains a mystery.

Jerry Wayne Ruley, 34, of Buena Vista, was being transported to the Rockbridge Regional Jail on Friday afternoon. With his hands cuffed in front of him, police say, Ruley reached for Sheriff’s Deputy Randy Chittum’s gun while Chittum was outside the side door of the jail, entering the security code.

According to Sgt. Bob Carpentieri of the Virginia State Police, “a struggle ensued” after Ruley grabbed for the gun.

Meanwhile, a cook at the jail, outside on a break, saw the struggle and alerted other deputies at the Rockbridge County Sheriff’s department.

               Jerry Wayne Ruley

Carpentieri said Ruley had control of the gun when it discharged and struck Ruley in the neck. He died at the scene. Officers are still not sure, however, who fired the shot.

The Virginia State Police are currently conducting an investigation.

“Any time there is a shooting involving local authorities, you want an outside independent agency to do an investigation,” said Rockbridge County Sheriff Bob Day.

Police say they arrested Ruley in connection with a stolen purse.  Earlier this week, a report had been filed on a pocketbook  missing from a car in town, according to Lexington Police Chief Bruce Beard. Officer Scott Fitzgerald investigated and concluded that Ruley and a juvenile were responsible for taking the pocketbook. The warrants for Ruley’s arrest were obtained and sent to the Buena Vista Sheriff’s department. According to Sheriff Randy Hamilton of Buena Vista, Ruley was apprehended at his home. Ruley was to be held without bond at the Rockbridge County Jail.

Though the family of the victim has requested to see tape from the surveillance cameras, the cameras do not feed to a video recorder. According to Capt. Enoch Hager of the Rockbridge Regional Jail, the cameras are a live feed into the control room where there is always someone keeping watch.

While the Virginia State Police’s policy is to handcuff suspects behind their backs, Hamilton said that he leaves this up to each individual officer, because of the cages in the police cruisers.