Virginia State Police

www.vsp.virginia.gov

Media Release
News Release No. 7
For Immediate Release: April 1, 2016

INVESTIGATION CONTINUES INTO FATAL SHOOTING

AT RICHMOND BUS STATION
RICHMOND, Va. The investigation continues into the March 31, 2016, shooting at a City of Richmond
bus terminal the resulted in two citizens being injured and a Virginia State Police (VSP) killed in the line of
duty.
Based on surveillance video obtained from the Greyhound Bus Station at 2910 North Boulevard, James
Brown III, 34, of Aurora, Illinois, was initially seated in the terminals restaurant. As VSP Trooper Chad P.
Dermyer began walking through the terminal, Brown walked out of the restaurant and into the restroom.
Brown then exited the bathroom and began walking towards the front entrance of the bus station when
Trooper Dermyer engaged him in a brief conversation at approximately 2:40 p.m. Brown then turned away
from the trooper and, within seconds, pulled a Beretta 40-caliber, semi-automatic handgun from the waist
of his pants, turned back around and began shooting at the trooper. Brown and Trooper Dermyer were
within arms reach of one another at that time.
Trooper Dermyer was shot several times. As soon as the gunfire erupted, two plainclothes state troopers
who were also participating in the operation began firing at Brown. Moments later, Brown moved into the
restaurant, where he was taken into custody and medics rendered aid to him. Brown was transported to
VCU Medical Center in Richmond, where he died later Thursday (March 31).
During the gunfire, a 21-year-old female from Wingdale, N.Y., was grazed by a bullet and a 41-year-old
Jacksonville, N.C., woman suffered a non-life threatening injury. Both women were transported to VCU
Medical Center for treatment. They were both inside the terminal at the time of the shooting; and were both
bus passengers.
No other law enforcement personnel or civilians were injured in the shooting.
Browns firearm was recovered at the scene, along with 143 rounds of additional ammunition in his
possession. Based on his ticket purchase, Browns travels by bus began in Raleigh/Durham, N.C., with a
final destination to Chicago, Ill. He was in Richmond to change buses. Brown has an extensive criminal
record in the state of Illinois, to include numerous illegal drug violations and violent crimes.
Trooper Dermyer was with 16 VSP troopers, special agents and supervisors participating in specialized
training on criminal interdiction practices. They had completed the classroom instruction and were

Regional Media Contacts

Statewide
(804)674-2789

Richmond
(804)553-3494

Culpeper
(540)829-7713

Appomattox
(434)352-7128

Wytheville
(276)228-3131

Chesapeake
(757)424-6827

Salem/Roanoke
(540)375-9598

Find VSP on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/VirginiaStatePolice

Fairfax
(804)674-2789

Virginia State Police

www.vsp.virginia.gov

Media Release
conducting field practical operations at the time the shooting occurred. Trooper Dermyers encounter with
the male subject was part of the training. Trooper Dermyer was wearing the standard, dark-blue VSP
fatigue uniform, which displays his last name, a cloth badge, and the VSP shoulder patch.
Trooper Dermyer, 37, was transported to VCU Medical Center, where he died later Thursday afternoon. A
Jackson, Mich. native, he graduated from the Virginia State Police Academy November 2014 with the 122nd
Basic Session. His served as the Basic Sessions class Vice President. His first patrol assignment was to
the Chesapeake Divisions Area 46 Office, which encompasses the cities of Newport News and Hampton.
He had just recently transferred to the state police Counter-Terrorism and Criminal Interdiction Unit. Prior to
joining the state police, Trooper Dermyer served with the City of Newport News Police Department and the
Jackson, Mich., Police Department. Trooper Dermyer also served our nation for four years with the U.S.
Marine Corps. He is survived by his wife and two young children.
The City of Richmond Police Department immediately responded to the scene to assist State Police with
securing the scene, interviewing witnesses and evidence collection. Additional law enforcement resources
from the FBI, ATF, US Department of Homeland Security, US Marshals Service, National Transportation
Safety Board, Henrico County Police, and members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force have also been
assisting with the ongoing investigation.

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Regional Media Contacts

Statewide
(804)674-2789

Richmond
(804)553-3494

Culpeper
(540)829-7713

Appomattox
(434)352-7128

Wytheville
(276)228-3131

Chesapeake
(757)424-6827

Salem/Roanoke
(540)375-9598

Find VSP on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/VirginiaStatePolice

Fairfax
(804)674-2789