The man who shot a Virginia Tech police officer before fleeing to a nearby parking lot where he took his own life has been identified as 22-year-old Ross Truett Ashley. Ashley attended Radford and was from Spotsylvania County. His family offered condolences to the family of slain law enforcement officer Deriek Crouse. Authorities are still investigating a possible motive for the attack.
Matt Dailey, a friend of Ashley, said in an interview with The Roanoke Times that he and Ashley had visited the shooting range on several occasions, but he did not think Ashley had used the gun recently. “He didn’t keep (the gun) locked away, but all summer I don’t think he had any bullets for the gun,” Dailey said. “He didn’t buy bullets that often because bullets are expensive.” Dailey described his friend as withdrawn, but nothing that would indicate he was planning anything.
