31-year-old officer with ‘infectious laugh’ shot and killed on duty, Virginia cops say

A 31-year-old police officer was shot and killed by a suspect in the line of duty, Virginia officials say.

Mark Christopher Wagner II died Friday, June 16, after he was shot responding to a call for an assault, according to a news release from Virginia State Police. He was an officer with the Wintergreen Police Department.

Officials said Wagner was the first to arrive after the department received a call about an assault at a residence around 10 p.m. on Friday. When he got to the residence, Wagner reported finding the suspect, 23-year-old Daniel Barmark, in the woods.

Wagner and Barmark struggled over Wagner’s department-issued handgun, police said. Barmark is accused of shooting and killing Wagner during the struggle. Barmark was also shot.

Barmark, who is from Towson, Maryland, was arrested and charged with capital murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and two felony counts of malicious wounding, according to police. He is being held at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.

Loved ones have shared tributes for Wagner on social media.

Prior to starting with the Wintergreen Police Department in August 2020, Wagner spent seven years with the Massanutten Police Department, Wintergreen Chief of Police Dennis Russell said in a Facebook post. Wagner started out as a gate attendant before he became a police officer in 2019.

“Chris asked for and worked the midnight shift. Whenever you saw Chris in the daylight, he wore dark dark sunglasses, and would crack a smile or two,” Russell wrote. “Chris was dedicated to his job and whenever called for extra duty he was ready, willing and able. His love for the badge was evident and his commitment to the community was undeniable.”

Outside of work, Wagner was an “avid outdoorsman,” according to Russell. He enjoyed hiking and photographing nature.

“Chris is remembered for always going out of his way to cheer others up and his infectious laugh was loud and echoed throughout the office,” Russell said.

“We’re all heartbroken by this,” Wagner’s stepmom wrote on Facebook. “I could not have been prouder of him. He was an amazing son, a beloved brother, and an incredible human being. Loved by a great many people.”

Wagner’s father remembered him as a “great son, decent person and a respectable cop” in a Facebook post.

Wintergreen is about 80 miles northwest of Richmond.

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