manhunt underway – A welfare check call at 13658 Fancy Gap Highway led to a firefight Friday night in Carroll County, Virginia. Two deputies were shot—one died of injuries and the other, hit in a ballistic vest, is stable—while a manhunt is underway for suspect Michael Puckett,
By 9:26 p.m. on May 29, 2026, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office had received a request to conduct a welfare check at 13658 Fancy Gap Highway.
When two deputies arrived and made contact with the man at the scene, Michael Puckett opened fire on both of them. The Sheriff’s Office says the deputies returned fire.
Both deputies were struck by gunfire. One was pronounced dead from injuries sustained in the shooting. The second deputy was hit in his ballistic vest and is receiving medical evaluation; he is reported to be stable.
The Sheriff’s Office is now searching for Puckett, and the warning is blunt: he should be considered “armed and extremely dangerous.” Anyone who sees him or has information about his whereabouts is urged not to approach him and to immediately call 911.
The timeline is already tense—an earlier welfare-check request turning into an exchange of gunfire within minutes—and the consequences are immediate for the department. As the manhunt continues. residents in Carroll County are being asked to stay alert. keep distance from the suspect. and help investigators reach him as quickly as possible.
Carroll County Virginia deputy shot Michael Puckett manhunt welfare check Fancy Gap Highway police shooting
Jeez. Why were they even on that road.
Welfare check turned into a shootout… that’s insane. I saw Fancy Gap Highway and immediately thought it’s gonna be one of those situations where everyone panics. Hope the deputies are okay.
So wait, was the man like suicidal or something? They said welfare check but then “armed and extremely dangerous” which makes me think they already knew he had a gun. Also the vest saved the other deputy right? Feels like they should’ve waited for backup instead of going straight in.
Manhunt for Michael Puckett… I heard it was like a traffic stop gone bad? Not sure if that’s true but these always get mixed up locally. Either way, don’t approach him and call 911, sure, but what if you’re just passing through and see something? Like do you stop? Because people will stop. Sad one deputy didn’t make it.