UMVA has learned that a dangerous fugitive, believed to be behind a fatal shooting of a Virginia deputy, was captured on a wildlife camera in North Carolina.
At 6:56 a.m. on Greenhill Road north of Mount Airy, the camera froze a figure wearing a baseball cap and a hooded jacket, the suspect named Michael Puckett.
Puckett is wanted for allegedly ambushing two deputies during a welfare check, killing a veteran officer and wounding another.
Following the attack, FBI and U.S. Marshals increased the bounty to $60,000, urging anyone with leads to contact authorities immediately.
The deadly confrontation began just before 9:30 p.m. when deputies responded to a family request for a welfare check, only to be shot at by Puckett.
One officer was killed; the other survived thanks to a ballistic vest, though he remains wounded.
Law enforcement has warned the public to stay away from the suspect and report sightings to 911.
The fallen officer, a military veteran who had joined the force in 2023, was celebrated as a hero and a lifelong dream fulfilled.
His family now mourns a profound loss while the wounded deputy recovers in stable condition.
Authorities continue to coordinate a wide-reaching manhunt, with multiple agencies on standby for any new information.
