Deputy, military veteran dies in shooting with man considered ’armed and extremely dangerous’

CARROLL COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ/Gray News) - A deputy in Virginia lost his life in a shooting Friday night while conducting a welfare check.

The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office identified the deputy killed as Logan Utt. He was a military veteran who joined the department in 2023.

According to the sheriff’s office, the situation started when it received a request to conduct a welfare check at a home.

When deputies arrived, they made contact with Michael Puckett, who fired at both of them. Deputies returned fire, but both deputies were struck.

Utt was pronounced dead from injuries sustained in the shooting. The second deputy was struck in his ballistic vest and is receiving medical evaluation, authorities said.

On Sunday, Puckett was captured in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, following an extensive manhunt.

The house in North Carolina is only about three miles from where the shooting of the deputies took place in Virginia, according to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. The resident of the home called 911 to report Puckett being in his yard.

He’s facing an aggravated murder charge in connection with the shooting.

Puckett has been booked into the Surry County Detention Center without bond, awaiting a hearing.