The Virginia State Police yesterday identified 39-year-old Wayne Lyall of Clintwood as the man who was killed by a state trooper Tuesday in Rockbridge County.
Lyall was fatally wounded by the trooper after investigators tracked a stolen car from Vinton to the Glasgow Lifesaving and First Aid Crew Station parking lot on Route 11 near Natural Bridge.
The Virginia State Police say Trooper R.W. Miller approached the stolen vehicle and a struggle ensued between Miller and Lyall. Investigators say Lyall started to turn a weapon in the direction of Miller and that’s when Miller shot Lyall.
Miller has been placed on administrative leave.
Meanwhile, Vinton Police Chief Ben Cook reports that the
stolen vehicle was taken from a store on Hardy Road Monday night. Cook says
another incident that may have involved Lyall occurred just hours before the car
theft at the Vinton ABC store. A man matching Lyall's description shoplifted a
bottle of liquor.
