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Riverside police allege that Austin Lee Edwards, 28 — a regulation enforcement officer from North Chesterfield, Va. — catfished a teenage lady on-line, got here to her suburban Riverside neighborhood and killed three of her members of the family Friday earlier than leaving together with her in his automobile.
Hours later, Edwards was killed by police. The lady was unhurt.
Here’s what we learn about Edwards and the allegations towards him.
What’s his background?
He had been newly employed as a deputy for the Washington County Sheriff’s Workplace in Virginia, officers mentioned. Earlier than that, he was an officer with the Virginia State Police.
Edwards resigned from the Virginia State Police on Oct. 28 and began with the sheriff’s workplace about three weeks later.
He accomplished coaching with the Virginia State Police Academy in January, officers mentioned, and was employed as a patrol deputy with the sheriff’s workplace in rural, southwest Virginia on Nov. 16. Edwards had began orientation at his company and had been assigned to the patrol division.
How do police say he met the teenager?
Detectives with the Riverside Police Division mentioned Edwards met the teenage lady by way of a way of on-line deception referred to as “catfishing,” by which a faux profile is used to lure somebody.
It’s unclear what social media platform he had been utilizing.
What occurred on the home?
Authorities are investigating. However they mentioned he got here into the home Friday morning earlier than leaving with the lady. The home was set on hearth, and when firefighters arrived, they discovered three individuals lifeless inside. The victims had been recognized as Mark Winek, 69; his spouse, Sharie Winek, 65; and their daughter Brooke Winek, 38 — the grandfather, grandmother and mom of the teenager.
What do police say about how Edwards died?
Hours after he allegedly left the home, a SWAT group tried to intercept Edward’s automobile in San Bernardino County, in accordance with the sheriff’s workplace there. He lead deputies on a chase, throughout which Edwards shot on the SWAT automobile a number of instances, officers mentioned. He finally exited his automobile and pointed a gun at a sheriff’s division helicopter, and deputies fired at Edwards, killing him, officers mentioned.
What are officers in Virginia saying?
“It’s stunning and unhappy to the whole regulation enforcement group that such an evil and depraved individual may infiltrate regulation enforcement whereas concealing his true id as a pc predator and assassin,” Washington County Sheriff Blake Andis mentioned in an announcement. “Our ideas and prayers are with the Winek household, their pals, officers and all of these affected by this heinous crime.”
Andis and a spokesperson for the Virginia State Police mentioned none of Edwards’ prior employers had disclosed points with him. Corinne Geller, the state police spokesperson, mentioned that in Edwards’ 15-month tenure on the company, he “by no means exhibited any behaviors to set off any inner administrative or felony investigations.” Throughout his background and psychological assessments, there weren’t “any indicators of concern,” she mentioned.
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