Walden native fatally shot during Virginia traffic stop

Posted 3/3/21

A Walden native and Valley Central graduate was killed in the line of duty, Friday, while serving with the Stanley (VA) Police Department.

According to multiple news reports, Officer Dominic …

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Walden native fatally shot during Virginia traffic stop

Posted

A Walden native and Valley Central graduate was killed in the line of duty, Friday, while serving with the Stanley (VA) Police Department.

According to multiple news reports, Officer Dominic (Nick) Winum had pulled over a vehicle driven by Dakota G. Richards, 29, of Stanley, Friday afternoon. Before Winum exited his patrol car, the driver got out of his vehicle and opened fire at approximately 3:15 p.m., according to police. Winum died at the scene. He was 48.

According to the VSP, law enforcement personnel responded to the scene and assisted with tracking Richards, who fled into nearby woods. He was later located hiding in a nearby barn. There, Richards made a threatening movement and was shot by Page County sheriff’s deputies, police say. Richards died of his injuries.

Winum had been a police officer with the Stanley Police Department in Virginia since 2016 and was a Virginia State Trooper prior to that. He was raised in Walden, where his father, Larry Winum, was a VC teacher as was his brother, Jarret Winum and his mother, Jean Winum was a tutor for the school district.

“The Village of Walden Police Department would like to express our deepest condolences to the brothers and sisters of the Town of Stanley Police Department and the family of Officer Dominic “ Nick “Winum, badge #202,” read a post on the Walden PD Facebook Page. “Our thoughts are with Officer Winum’s coworkers and family in Virginia, as well as his family in the Montgomery area. Thank you for your service and dedication Sir, we will take it from here.”

A gofundme account has been established to help the family with expenses. To donate, visit gofundme.com/f/officer-dominic-nick-winum.