From Virginia State Police: At 2:53 p.m., Monday (May 25), Virginia State Police initiated a traffic stop on a speeding 2003 Nissan Altima traveling 95 mph in a posted 70 mph zone heading south on I-81 near the 165 mile marker in Botetourt County. The Nissan refused to stop and a pursuit was initiated. The suspect continued south on I-81 and just before the I-81 and I-581 merge in Roanoke County, the Nissan ran off the right side of the highway and crashed. The driver, Justin Howard St. Clair, 25 of Fincastle, Va., exited the Nissan with a firearm. St. Clair refused to comply with the troopers’ demands to drop the weapon and was subsequently shot. State police immediately rendered aid to St. Clair, who was transported by ambulance to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound. He remains at the hospital and is currently listed in stable condition. The incident remains under investigation by the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Salem Field Office. State police in-car cameras did capture the incident and all recordings have been entered into evidence for the criminal investigation. These evidentiary recordings will not be released as they are part of the ongoing criminal investigative file and, therefore, exempt from release. In accordance with Virginia State Police policy, Sr. Trooper D.P. Purcell was placed on administrative leave.
