Wintergreen
Nelson County, Virginia
By Tommy Stafford
Scroll for additional VSP details below
Updated 6:15 PM from VSP:
A Maryland man has been arrested for assaulting two men and fatally shooting a police officer Friday night in Nelson County’s Wintergreen community. The Virginia State Police has charged Daniel M. Barmak, 23, of Towson, Md., with capital murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and two felony counts of malicious wounding. Barmak is being held at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.
The incident began shortly after 10 p.m. Friday (June 16, 2023) when an emergency call came into the Wintergreen Police Department about Barmak assaulting two other adult males at the residence they were all staying at on Arrowood Lane. After calling police, the two injured males fled the residence on foot. The two 23-year-old males were both transported to UVA Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
Wintergreen Police Officer M. Christopher Wagner II, 31, was the first to arrive at the residence. He encountered Barmak in the woods and a struggle ensued. During the course of the struggle over Wagner’s department-issued handgun, Barmak shot and killed the officer. Barmak was also shot during the encounter.
Wintergreen Police and the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office took Barmak into custody without further incident. Barmak was transported to UVA Medical Center for treatment of a non-life threatening injury sustained during the incident.
Inside the residence, state police recovered illegal narcotics. Wagner’s department-issued handgun was recovered at the shooting scene in the woods.
Wagner’s remains have been transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner for examination and autopsy.
At the request of Wintergreen Police Chief Dennis Russell, the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Appomattox Field Office is investigating the incident.
STATEMENT FROM THE NELSON COUNTY OFFICE OF THE COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY: The Nelson County Commonwealth’s Attorney is working with the Virginia State Police during the ongoing criminal investigation. We extend our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to Officer Wagner’s family, the Wintergreen Police Department, and Wintergreen community. The Commonwealth Attorney’s Office is committed to pursuing a just and legal resolve to this case.”
Virginia State Police release:
“At the request of Wintergreen Police Chief Dennis Russell, the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Appomattox Field Office is investigating the circumstances of an incident that resulted in the fatal shooting of a Wintergreen Police Officer and the injury of three others Friday night (June 16).
The incident began shortly after 10 p.m. Friday when an emergency call came in to the Wintergreen Police Department about an adult male resident having assaulted two other adult males at a residence on Arrowood Lane. After calling police, the two injured males fled the residence on foot. They are being treated at UVA Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries.
At this stage of the investigation, it appears the first Wintergreen Police Officer to arrive at the residence located the adult male suspect in the nearby woods and a struggle ensued. During the course of the struggle, the officer was shot and died at the scene.
The male suspect was taken into custody without further incident by Wintergreen Police and the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office. The male suspect was suffering from a non-life threatening injury and was transported to UVA Medical Center for treatment.
The officer’s department-issued firearm was recovered at the scene in the woods. The investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Corinne Geller
Public Relations Director
Virginia State Police”
