Search continues for gunman in shooting of Va. trooper

A massive, two-state manhunt continues today for a 32-year-old man wanted on charges of shooting a Virginia State Police trooper on Friday.

Authorities are trying to determine if a vehicle stolen today in West Virginia is linked to the case.

Corinne Geller, a State Police spokeswoman, identified the wanted man as Steven Dale Branscome of Barren Springs. He is considered armed and dangerous.

Warrants have been issued charging Branscome with malicious wounding and wanton endangerment. He was already wanted in Wythe County on charges of grand larceny and breaking and entering.

Friday’s incident began at 3:39 p.m., Geller said, when troopers Richard W. Hughes and Stephen M. Barton arrived at a Glen Lyn residence to serve two arrest warrants on a William Pennington.

The home is in Giles County, near the West Virginia border.

As they arrived, the troopers saw a man sitting in a black Ford Tempo parked outside the residence, Geller said. Before they could approach the car, however, the driver sped off.

The troopers gave chase and the pursuit continued up a dirt mountain road where the car struck a rock and wrecked, Geller said.

The driver, later identified as Branscome, fled into the woods and across the West Virginia line.

Trooper Hughes continued after Branscome.

A short time later, Branscome “sprang from behind a tree and fired multiple rounds at the trooper,” Geller said.

Hughes was struck in the neck as he took cover from the gunfire. Branscome then fled and has remained at-large since.

Hughes was treated at Giles Memorial Hospital and released Friday evening.

He joined the State Police in 2003 and was transferred from Pittsylvania County to Giles County last year, Geller said.

Pennington, who was being sought on felony credit card fraud charges, turned himself in late Friday, Geller said.

On Saturday, he was charged with possession of a gun by a felon and is being held without bond.

Since the shooting, Geller said authorities have found that the vehicle Branscome was driving had been reported stolen from the Floyd County School Board.

It had been spray-painted black and had license plates issued to Branscome for another vehicle on it.

It has not been found.

Shortly after 1 p.m. today, a dark-blue 1988 Ford F-150 pickup truck was reported stolen in Mercer County, W.Va.

The vehicle has damage to its front and rear bumpers, and driver-side door. The pickup’s West Virginia license plate is 5CW327.

“Police have not linked Branscome to this vehicle, but are still asking for the public’s help in locating it,” Geller said.

Personnel from the Virginia and West Virginia state police; the Giles County and Montgomery County sheriff’s offices; the Pulaski, Doveland and Glen Lyn police departments; the federal bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the U.S. Marshal’s Service are involved in the ongoing search for Branscome and the investigation.

Branscome is described as being 6 feet tall and about 185 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair.

Anyone with information about Branscome’s whereabouts or Friday’s shooting is asked to call Virginia State Police at (276) 228-3131 or West Virginia State Police at (304) 425-2101 or (304) 256-6700.

Steve Stone, (757) 446-2309/2319, steve.stone@pilotonline.com