PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY, Va. — Residents no longer have to shelter in place in rural western Prince Edward County after officials said a wanted homicide suspect was in custody Sunday afternoon.
County officials made the announcement around 1:20 p.m. after neighbors were warned the "armed and dangerous" suspect troopers said fired at a Farmville Police officer Sunday morning was in the area.
Neighbors within a five-mile radius of Hixburg Road and Prince Edward Highway (Route 460) were urged to shelter in place, a spokesperson for Virginia State Police said. That is in the Prospect/Pamplin of the county and not far from the High Bridge Trail and the trailhead at Elam.
Twenty-four-year-old Rayjuan A. Calloway is wanted for a murder at a home in the 900 block of 7th Street NW in Roanoke City on Saturday evening, troopers said.
Roanoke Police told WDBJ that officers found 55-year-old Israel Calloway of Roanoke dead inside the home from apparent gunshot wound injuries.
Troopers said Calloway, who may have been driving a white Honda Accord with Virginia license plates VTA-7996, was spotted on Route 460 and Hixburg Road around 7:30 a.m.
"The suspect fired at the officer and took off on foot down Hixburg Road," Prince Edward County Sheriff LA "Tony" Epps said.
Farmville Police said the officer was not hurt but that his vehicle was damaged in the shooting.
"There is currently a large search ongoing by multiple local and state law enforcement agencies," Epps said.
Calloway was last seen wearing just black pants and no shirt, police said.
Troopers warned neighbors not to "engage the suspect."
"Residents in the area are advised to lock your doors, stay inside and report any suspicious activity by calling 911," troopers warned.
County officials said the sheriff asked all residents to "please take this message seriously and shelter in place."
"Please check on your friends and family by phone or text message," officials wrote. "If you have any information or feel unsafe please call 911."
Anyone with information about the case was asked to call 911 or Farmville Police at 434-392-3332.
Prince Edward County, home to Farmville, Longwood University and Hampden-Sydney College, is roughly 80 miles and a 1-hour 20-minute drive from Richmond along Route 360 and then Route 460.
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