YORK COUNTY — A man is in custody after firing on York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office deputies and James City County police officers in the 300 Block of Mark’s Pond Way in York County Wednesday.
Sheriff Ron Montgomery of the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office held a joint press conference Wednesday evening at the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office with Chief Mark Jamison of the James City County Police Department (JCCPD) to give an update on the situation.
According to Jamison, the James City County Police Department received multiple calls alleging a motorist had been shot by a lone occupant of a light blue sedan traveling westbound behind the victim approximately one mile from the intersection of Anderson’s corner in James City County. A vehicle tag and description were obtained and officers, who then headed to the registered owner’s residence in the 300 Block of Mark’s Pond Way.
According to Montgomery, the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office (YPSO) received a call to assist JCCPD with the investigation at approximately 12:10 p.m.
JCCPD officers were first to arrive on the scene, according to Montgomery, and had just gotten out of their vehicle when the suspect, identified as 35-year-old Andrew Francis Susalis, opened fire on them from the upper floor of the residence, firing multiple rounds from a rifle and striking the officers’ police car.
YPSO deputies arrived as the shots were being fired. Montgomery said at that point, the suspect stopped shooting, exited the residence and surrendered. No shots were fired by law enforcement in the incident. The house was secured and a second occupant of the residence was also temporarily detained, according to Jamison.
No law enforcement officers were seriously injured. Fragments hit one JCCPD officer, who was treated and released, according to Jamison. An occupied house was also struck, but no one was injured.
“This is something that you don’t expect to run into when you’re a police officer … to pull up on the scene and take multiple rounds from a rifle inside a car and you’re fighting for your life at that moment. It’s something we never expect to experience,” said Jamison. “Our officers today responded with bravery, courage, and unbelievable resolve to be able to survive this incident. They survived this incident because there was an attempt on their life. If you look at this car again, you will see that there’s no doubt what this individual had in mind.”
Montgomery said a conservative estimate counted 100 holes in the vehicle.
“We interact on a regular basis. So I was terribly concerned for their officers as much as I would have been for mine that we had law enforcement officers that were being actively shot at. When I first received that picture that you saw up there a minute ago. I thought it was incredible that we didn’t have any further loss of life or a more serious injury than we had,” said Montgomery. “So I was very grateful for that. But the fact that it was another law enforcement officer — but particularly because it was James City that we work so closely with — I was terribly concerned about that.”
The suspect is currently in custody. He was charged with two counts of attempted second degree murder, two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony, two felony counts of reckless handling of a firearm, one felony count of destruction of property and one felony count of shooting into an occupied dwelling.
On Thursday, the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office announced that as a result of its continuing investigation, additional charges have been obtained for the suspect. He is now charged with three counts of attempted aggravated murder of law enforcement officers.
Jamison said the investigation into the earlier shooting in James City County was continuing and Susalis will likely face further charges related to that incident.
“I thank God for a partnership with the York York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office,” said Jamison. “They were there immediately on the scene with us and we worked this together. This goes to show our partnerships are important. And I’d like to thank the sheriff for all your help.”
Susalis is currently incarcerated in the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail, according to the sheriff’s office.
