A Virginia deputy answered a welfare call from a man’s own family. He never came home.
Deputy Logan Utt of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office was shot and killed Friday night while responding to a welfare check at the home of Michael Puckett along Fancy Gap Highway. A second deputy was also shot and is currently receiving treatment for his injuries.
What followed was a nearly 48-hour manhunt that crossed state lines — and ended just three miles from where the shooting happened.
“Deputy Utt was killed in the line of duty while serving the community.” — North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation
A Drone Spotted Him Moving in the Dark
By Sunday morning, Puckett had been caught on a wildlife game camera just north of Mount Airy, NC — meaning he’d been hiding in the area for nearly two days. Law enforcement from Virginia and North Carolina had been coordinating across state lines since the moment the shots were fired.
Then, Saturday night at 8:32 p.m., SBI agents got their break. Using a drone, they tracked Puckett as he moved between locations in Surry County, North Carolina. Agents watched him walk up to a home on Skyview Lane — and arrested him the moment he rang the doorbell.
He was armed with a handgun. He was taken into custody without incident.
A Neighbor’s 911 Call Helped Seal His Fate
The homeowner had already called 911 to report a stranger in his yard — not knowing he was looking at a man wanted for murdering a deputy sheriff. That call helped agents zero in on Puckett’s exact location at the right moment.
The entire scene unfolded less than three miles from where Deputy Utt lost his life.
His Own Family Had Called for a Welfare Check
In a tragic twist, it was Puckett’s own family who made the original welfare call that sent deputies to his door that Friday night. They were worried about him. Instead, their concern led to the death of a man who showed up to help.
Puckett is now booked into the Surry County Detention Center with no bond. He faces a charge of aggravated murder.
What Happens Next
Puckett is awaiting an extradition hearing before being transferred to Virginia to face charges. The second deputy who was shot remains under medical care — his condition has not been disclosed.
Deputy Utt’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief across Carroll County, a tight-knit community in southwestern Virginia. Flags have been lowered in his honor.
“We appreciate the assistance of our local, state, and federal partners — as well as the public — during this investigation.” — NC State Bureau of Investigation
