Jacob Wesley Adkins, a 25-year-old from Hurt, Virginia, was shot and killed by a Virginia State Police trooper shortly after 12:30 a.m. on December 29, 2025, when a Pittsylvania County car chase ended with Adkins firing a rifle at the trooper. The trooper was struck by gunfire but survived. The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation is handling the case.
What Happened on Deerview Road
A Virginia State Police trooper spotted a 2018 Ford Fusion heading north on Route 29 in Pittsylvania County just after 12:30 a.m.1WSLS. Pittsylvania County Traffic Pursuit Ends With Suspect Fatally Shot, Trooper Injured The same car had already outrun Pittsylvania County sheriff’s deputies earlier that night, and a be-on-the-lookout alert had gone out.2WDBJ7. VSP Investigating Pittsylvania County Officer-Involved Shooting
Adkins fled again. The trooper gave chase and used a Precision Immobilization Technique maneuver to disable the Fusion on Deerview Road.1WSLS. Pittsylvania County Traffic Pursuit Ends With Suspect Fatally Shot, Trooper Injured Once the car stopped, Virginia State Police say, Adkins produced a rifle and fired at the trooper. The trooper returned fire and struck Adkins, who died at the scene.2WDBJ7. VSP Investigating Pittsylvania County Officer-Involved Shooting The make and model of the rifle were not disclosed.
The Trooper’s Injuries
The trooper’s gunshot wound was described by Virginia State Police as non-life-threatening.3WSET. Suspect Fatally Shot by State Trooper After Firing Rifle at Officer During Car Chase He was taken to Centra Medical Center, treated, and released to recover at home.1WSLS. Pittsylvania County Traffic Pursuit Ends With Suspect Fatally Shot, Trooper Injured His name has not been released.
Why Adkins Was Being Pursued
Adkins was wanted on outstanding charges out of Campbell County, which is what put him on law enforcement’s radar that night.3WSET. Suspect Fatally Shot by State Trooper After Firing Rifle at Officer During Car Chase The specific Campbell County charges have not been publicly described. The sheriff’s office pursuit earlier that night was the first attempt to stop him; the trooper’s encounter on Route 29 was the second.
The Investigation
The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation has opened a formal inquiry into the shooting.1WSLS. Pittsylvania County Traffic Pursuit Ends With Suspect Fatally Shot, Trooper Injured Virginia State Police said the findings will be turned over to the Pittsylvania Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, which will decide whether the trooper’s use of force was legally justified.2WDBJ7. VSP Investigating Pittsylvania County Officer-Involved Shooting No decision from that review has been publicly announced.
Adkins’s Prior Record
Online Virginia court records cited by the Augusta Free Press show Adkins had faced numerous criminal charges going back to 2018, including brandishing a firearm, assault and battery, child abuse, reckless driving, forgery, grand larceny, and methamphetamine possession.4Augusta Free Press. Pittsylvania County Suspect Dead After Pursuit, Shootout With State Police Trooper Dispositions and sentences for those charges were not detailed in available reporting.
Who Jacob Adkins Was
Adkins was born March 1, 2000, in Lynchburg and lived in Hurt, a small community in Pittsylvania County.5Colbert-Moran Funeral Home. Jacob “Jake” Adkins Obituary He worked as an equipment operator for Haymes Brothers and left behind four sons: Grayson, Jexton, Remington, and Kolton. His funeral was held on January 2, 2026.