Man fatally shot by police following multi-city pursuit of vehicle that ended in crash; passenger died after car overturns

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — Two people are dead following an attempted traffic stop Saturday that began in Newport News and ended in Chesapeake. The driver of the car Virginia State Police were trying to pull over was fatally shot by police after they say he assaulted a trooper.

State Police told 10 On Your Side that around 4:55 p.m., the Newport News Police Department attempted to stop a white 2007 Chevrolet sedan in reference to reports of an aggravated assault, a suspected abduction, and a suspected DUI.

Newport News Police spokesman Officer Brandon Maynard told 10 On Your Side, the driver failed to yield to police several times. The vehicle then entered the southbound lanes of I-664. As the vehicle entered interstate, State Police took the lead attempting to pull over the vehicle.

State Police said the suspect’s vehicle never exceeded the posted speed limit.

According to police, the suspect’s vehicle then made contact with a state trooper’s vehicle, causing both vehicles to run off the roadway in separate directions. The sedan ran off the roadway into an embankment and overturned in the tree line, near Route 58.

The driver, later identified as 45-year-old Chesapeake resident Brian Michael Price, fled the scene on foot. Police say his female passenger, identified as 47-year-old Newport News resident Amity Jo Grey, died upon impact.

Within minutes of the crash, a trooper located the suspect walking along the westbound lanes of Route 58. The trooper parked his car and approached the suspect on foot.

That’s when police say Price assaulted the trooper as he tried to verbally engage with him. Price was then fatally shot by the trooper.

Price’s body was transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Chesapeake for examination and autopsy. The next of kin for both Price and Grey have been notified of their deaths.

The trooper was treated at the scene for his minor injuries. Police say he has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of the investigation being conducted by the Virginia State Police.

Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Chesapeake Field Office is investigating the incident.

Newport News police said they would not release any additional information on the incident due to the ongoing investigation.