Man Who Shot Trooper Had 143 Rounds of Ammo in Bags

RICHMOND, VA -- Virginia State Police have identified the gunman in Thursday's fatal shooting of a state trooper as James Brown III of Aurora, IL.

People across the country are mourning the death of Chad P. Dermyer, the Virginia state trooper who was shot Thursday afternoon at a Greyhound bus station in Richmond. Dermyer and the gunman died Thursday at VCU Medical Center.

• FULL STORY: Virginia Trooper Shooting: No Motive For Killing In Richmond Greyhound Station
• SEE ALSO: Virginia Trooper Fatally Shot at Greyhound Station Grew Up In Michigan
• Illinois Man Who Shot Virginia Trooper Wanted to Be 'Infamous'

The gun used by Brown was purchased legally 13 months ago by someone else, but police don't know how Brown got the gun, said Col. W. Steven Flaherty, superintendent of the Virginia State Police, in a Friday afternoon news conference. Police are working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to trace the gun.

What was the motive? "We don't know, at this point," Flaherty said. He described how Dermyer, in uniform, walked into the terminal and Brown got up from where he was sitting in the restaurant and headed toward his bags sitting near the entrance. Video surveillance shows Brown reaching toward his bags and then turning to Dermyer, Flaherty said.

Brown may have been worried his gun was going to be discovered, Flaherty said. After a brief exchange of words, Brown opened fire "inches from his [Dermyer's] chest," he said.

The gun was a 40-caliber semiautomatic Beretta, Flaherty said. Brown had 143 rounds of unspent ammunition with two 30-round clips partially loaded.

Dermyer was not wearing a safety vest. "Whether the vest would have saved his life or not, I don't know," Flaherty said.

The gunman, Brown, "had a lot of anger about the police in the past," the shooter's aunt, Edith Brown, told Richmond TV station WTVR. "He pretty much thought he wanted to be infamous . . . in terms of having a showdown. He always praised those people who got into shootouts with police."

Virginia State Police are leading the investigation into the motive of the gunman, searching through bags he was carrying at the terminal and trying to figure out why he was in Richmond. Flaherty said Friday that Brown had been in Raleigh, traveled to Richmond and was on his way back to Chicago, through Washington, D.C. Police from Richmond are also in Aurora, Ill., investigating Brown's background there.

WTVR reports that Brown, 34, had been charged in the past with murder, intent to kill, aggravated battery with a firearm, failure to obey police, resisting a corrections officer, aggravated battery of a pregnant woman, aggravated battery of an unborn child, numerous drug charges, intimidation, domestic battery, felony possession of a weapon, among many driving charges.

Flaherty said while it was troubling that Brown was able to travel across the country with that kind of criminal background, there were currently no pending charges or warrants for Brown.

Some of Brown's charges stem from arrests made in Aurora, Ill.:

In 2001, Brown was charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm for allegedly shooting at a vehicle near his home in the 600 block of North May Street in Aurora during an afternoon in March, the Aurora Beacon-News reports. A 19-year-old Aurora man was injured in the shooting.

In August 2006, Brown and his cousin, Jeremy S. Brown, were arrested during a joint parole investigation by Aurora police and the Illinois Department of Corrections, according to the Aurora Beacon-News. Police found a loaded handgun, marijuana and cocaine in their home on North May Street during the compliance check.

Meanwhile, Dermyer, a native of Jackson, MI, the father of two and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, is being mourned after the tragedy. Dermyer is survived by wife Michelle and two children.

He is the 62nd Virginia State Police Trooper to be killed in the line of duty during the department's 84-year history, according to police. In honor of Dermyer, his patrol car is on display in front of the Virginia State Police Administrative Headquarters in North Chesterfield County.

Funeral arrangements for the slain trooper are still pending at this time.

Dermyer had recently transferred from patrol to the Counter-Terrorism and Criminal Interdiction Unit and was taking part in a training exercise when he was shot at the busy terminal after speaking with Brown.

A prayer vigil for Dermyer is planned for 6:30 p.m. Friday across from the Greyhound Bus Terminal, and people who attend are asked to wear navy blue.

Michigan Friends Remember Slain Trooper

The Jackson Citizen Patriot newspaper reports Dermyer, who graduated from Columbia Central High School, worked for the Jackson Police Department for about three years. The job was eliminated in budget cuts, and he worked for other police agencies in Michigan before moving Virginia, where his wife grew up.

Dermyer regularly kept in touch with his friends and family in Michigan, and last visited about a year ago. His friends described him to the Jackson newspaper as “a good guy,” a “phenomenal” soccer player and all-around athlete, and a first-rate law enforcement officer.

"It's senseless,” Matt Miller, a childhood friend, told the Jackson Citizen Patriot. “How do you describe it? It is something you really can't comprehend or understand."

Virginia Mourns Fallen Officer

There was more reaction to the sad news from Virginia officials: "Deeply saddened by the loss of Trooper Chad Dermyer," Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said on Twitter. "@VSPPIO risk everything to keep us safe & all of VA mourns this senseless loss."

"Respect for life & service of State Trooper Chad Dermyer, killed in #RVA shooting," Virginia Sen. Mark Warner said on social media. "Please pray for his wife, children & the 2 injured."

Donations can be made to the family

The Virginia State Police Association (VSPA) is accepting donations for the Dermyer Family. Checks should be addressed to VSPA Emergency Relief Fund and please note on the “Memo” line that your donation cites Trooper Dermyer. Donations are to be mailed to/dropped off at:

Virginia State Police Association

6944 Forest Hill Avenue

Richmond, Virginia 23225

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PHOTO: In honor of Virginia State Police Trooper Chad P. Dermyer, his patrol car is on display in front of the VSP headquarters in North Chesterfield County, Va. Photo courtesy of VSP; second photo: Virginia State Police badge; booking mug of suspected shooter James Brown III from Aurora, IL police