RICHMOND, Va. (WVEC) -- Officials say a Virginia State Trooper was killed in a shootout with a gunman at a Richmond bus station Thursday afternoon. The suspect is also dead, and two women have non-life threatening injuries.
Virginia State Police identified the fallen trooper as 37-year-old Trooper Chad Dermyer. 13News Now met Trooper Dermyer earlier this year, when he and another trooper helped save a dog that ran across two interstates.
Trooper Dermyer was also the very same officer who conducted a traffic stop on Tonya Slaton, who was charged with murder after the remains of her son, Quincy Davis, were found in the trunk of her car.
A prayer vigil is scheduled to take place Friday night at 6:30 p.m. at the Siegel Center on the campus of VCU. The community is being asked to wear navy blue in his honor.
On Friday morning, VSP identified the suspected shooter as 34-year-old James Brown III of Aurora, Illinois. No motive for Brown's actions have been given, at this time.
We've also learned that one of the women who was injured in the shooting was a member of the Binghamton University's track team. The team was en route to a track meet at the College of William and Mary when they made a stop at the Greyhound station in Richmond.
The school has been in touch with the student's parents and has arranged for counselors to be available to the student and her fellow student-athletes.
Officers responded around 2:45 p.m. to reports of a shooting at the Greyhound bus station in the 2900 block of N. Boulevard.
Trooper Dermyer was among more than a dozen state police troopers participating in drug interdiction training at the bus station. The troopers had completed the classroom instruction and were conducting field practicals at the time of the shooting.
State Police say that as Trooper Dermyer approached Brown just inside the front doors of the bus station. During the course of the conversation, Brown pulled out a gun and shot Dermyer multiple times. Two other troopers in plainclothes returned fire and struck the suspect, according to State Police.
Authorities say Trooper Dermyer's encounter with the male subject was not part of the training.
Brown was taken to VCU Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Colonel Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent, also confirmed the gunman had a history of charges against him. Flaherty also believes there was no indication of terrorism in this incident.
The troopers were in plain clothes, but had guns and badges, sources said. Dermyer was not wearing a vest.
Dermyer, 37, is survived by a wife and two children.
Police had cleared the station and made arrangements to get remaining passengers at the station to their destinations.
"This is one of the saddest things I've ever seen in Richmond," Councilwoman Reva Trammell said.
Greyhound tweeted that the Richmond station is closed until further notice.
"We are actively working with the authorities," Greyhound officials stated.
The incident remains under investigation.
Officials say that Trooper Dermyer's police car will be driven down to the VSP Area 46 Office, which is the Chesapeake division on Saturday, April 2.
The Virginia State Police Association is accepting donations for the Dermyer family. Checks should be addressed to VSPA Emergency Relief Fund and note on the "Memo" line that your donation cites Trooper Dermyer.
Donations can be mailed or dropped off at the address below:
Virginia State Police Association, 6944 Forest Hill Ave., Richmond, VA, 23255.
Charles Willis is executive director of United Communities Against Crime, a Richmond-based group that advocates for anti-violence initiatives and is helping to organize the vigil at VCU.
Willis said he expects several hundred people to come out. He said the trooper's death has "touched so many folks."
Trooper Dermyer is the 62nd Virginia State Police Trooper to be killed in the line of duty during the Department's 84-year history. In honor of Trooper Dermyer, his patrol car is currently on display in front of the Virginia State Police Administrative Headquarters in North Chesterfield County.
Funeral arrangements are still pending at this time.
Governor Terry McAuliffe released the following statement:
“I have spoken with the Mayor of Richmond and the Superintendent of the Virginia State Police and offered whatever state resources may be necessary to respond to this situation. Our public safety team and I will continue to monitor the situation and support State Police and local authorities in their response and investigation of this incident.”
FULL COVERAGE: Trooper slain in Richmond bus station shooting
- Virginia State Trooper killed in shooting
- VSP Trooper was training at time of shooting
- Police ID gunman in deadly bus station shooting
- Student injured was headed to W&M track meet
- Trooper who died once saved dog on Interstate
- PHOTOS: Deadly shooting at Richmond bus terminal
- PHOTOS: Remembering Virginia State Trooper Chad Dermyer