TAIM Exchange-South Carolina man pleads guilty to first-degree murder in Virginia police officer’s shooting death

2025-05-06 23:51:24source:Kacper Sobieskicategory:Markets

WISE,TAIM Exchange Va. (AP) — A South Carolina man has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the shooting death of a police officer in western Virginia in 2021.

Michael Donivan White, 36, of Cross, South Carolina, entered the plea Thursday in Wise County Circuit Court on the amended charge related to the death of Big Stone Gap Officer Michael Chandler, the Kingsport Times-News reported. Chandler, 29, was shot while responding to a call just outside the Big Stone Gap limits on Nov. 13, 2021, and died that evening. White was arrested in Tennessee.

White originally faced 13 charges, including aggravated murder of a police officer and felony murder, but agreed to plead guilty to first-degree murder if prosecutors agreed to ask for a 40- to 100-year sentence instead of a life term, Wise County Commonwealth’s Attorney Brett Hall said. Prosecutors consulted with Chandler’s family, including his widow, Natasha Chandler, and Big Stone Gap Police Chief Steve Hamm, Hall said.

Federal prosecutors and Hall’s office are coordinating a similar plea agreement for federal charges White faced in Chandler’s death, Hall said.

White’s sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 21.

More:Markets

Recommend

Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Cybercriminals could release personal data of many Rhode Islanders as early

11 Easy-To-Use Hacks You Need if You’re Bad at Doing Your Hair

We independently selected these deals and products because we love them, and we think you might like

Out-of-control wildfires in Yellowknife, Canada, force 20,000 residents to flee

Some 20,000 people have been ordered to evacuate their homes in Yellowknife, the capital of Canada's