The man accused of shooting a Virginia state trooper is still in Texas awaiting extradition.
32-year-old Steven Branscome was caught last Sunday in Texas, but as the days pass, we're finding new details about his arrest.
The photos show Branscome surrounded by authorities moments after he was captured.
It was shortly afterward that Branscome tried to hang himself with a seatbelt... but U.S. Marshal Wayne Pike says it probably wasn't about suicide.
“Certainly in my career, it's not unusual the first thing these people want to do is go to a hospital
… It's universal -- happens all over the country. People pull this hospital stuff. Feign illness and injury and they get there and try to escape. It happens all the time,” Pike said.
Pike also says Branscome put mattresses in front of his windows so police could not hit him with tear gas, and that he knew he was surrounded. Still police had to be cautious.
“One problem was nobody was absolutely sure he didn't have somebody with him, and that was a major concern,” he said.
Branscome was registered using the name of a Wythe County family member, but the hotel clerk identified him as the man in the room. They caught him just in time, says Pike because he was headed south.
“He was going down I-40 to I-30 and go right on down and try to get into Mexico,” said Pike.
Though no weapons were found in the room, Pike says there was a syringe indicating Branscome was using drugs, most likely methamphetamine.
Branscome will first face charges in West Virginia for the shooting of Virginia State Trooper Richard Hughes. He will then face additional charges in Virginia related to a string of crimes he’s accused of committing in the days prior to the shooting. Pike wants to add some more potential jail time as well, by urging the U.S. Attorney’s office to charge Branscome with federal career criminal charges, which carry 15 years to life.
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