UPDATE: Woman killed in Roanoke Sheetz shooting

8:19 p.m.

A Franklin County Sheriff's Deputy stands accused of a shooting rampage that ended with his ex-wife dead, and a Virginia State Police trooper shot.

Roanoke City Police say the shootings began around 11:30 a.m. Police Chief Chris Perkins said investigators believe that Franklin Co. Deputy Jonathan Agee, 32, of Boones Mill, followed a truck being driven by his ex-wife, Jennifer Agee, 30, of Salem, into the Williamson Road Sheetz, across from the Roanoke Civic Center.

Chief Perkins said a witness told officers that Deputy Agee stepped out of his marked Franklin County patrol cruiser, took out a rifle, and fired multiple shots at Jennifer Agee, while she was outside of her pick-up truck.

Perkins said Deputy Agee then got back in his patrol car, and sped off before Roanoke Police arrived.

Roanoke Police then contacted State Police, and issued a "Be On The Lookout" (BOLO) alert for Deputy Agee, and his patrol cruiser. Roanoke Police have a warrant out for Agee on a murder charge.

State Police Superintendent Colonel Steven Flaherty says Sergeant Matthew Brannock spotted Deputy Agee headed west on Route 460 in Montgomery County. Col. Flaherty said when Sgt. Brannock turned around to get behind Deputy Agee's cruiser, Agee turned on his lights and sirens, and kept going west on Rt. 460.

Agee eventually drove onto Interstate 81 northbound, at the Christiansburg exit (exit 118), State Police said. Sgt. Brannock chased Agee, until Agee stopped about one-mile south of the Ironto exit ramp (exit 128). Col. Flaherty said that's where Agee shot and wounded Sgt. Brannock, around 11:48 a.m.

State Police say Agee then got back in his car, and drove to the Ironto exit. Additional State Police troopers converged on the scene, surrounded Agee at the off-ramp, and eventually shot and wounded Agee.

EMTs took both Sgt. Brannock and Deputy Agee to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. State Police say Agee's injuries are considered life-threatening, while Sgt. Brannock is expected to survive.

"The focus of investigators right now is piecing together the exact sequence of events leading up to both shootings," said Col. Flaherty. "This is a difficult day, needless to say, for Virginia's law enforcement community."

Franklin County Sheriff' Ewell Hunt said in an e-mailed statement that Deputy Agee was off-duty at the time of the shootings. Sheriff Hunt added that Agee has been suspended without pay, and that he has been charged with unlawful use of a Franklin County police vehicle.

Hunt said Agee had been with the Sheriff's Department since April of 2004.

"We are shocked and saddened by today's tragic events. We ask that you keep the families of all involved in your prayers," said Sheriff Hunt.

The shootings forced the closure of I-81 northbound between Christiansburg and Ironto for most of the afternoon and evening. State Police re-opened I-81 northbound shortly before 7:00 p.m.

Col. Flaherty added that two State Police troopers who were involved in the takedown of Agee have been placed on administrative leave, in accordance with State Police policy. The State Police shooting investigation team is overseeing the investigation into the shootings off of I-81.

Sgt. Brannock served in the U.S. Air Force, and joined Virginia State Police 13 years ago, according to the agency. Brannock is a native of Martinsville, and covers the areas of Craig County, Floyd County, Montgomery County, and Roanoke County for the Salem Division of State Police.

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5:40 p.m.

State Police and Roanoke City Police have linked the deadly shooting at Sheetz, to the shooting of a trooper in Ironto.

Roanoke City Police Chief Chris Perkins says investigators believe Franklin County Deputy Jonathan Agee followed his ex-wife Jennifer Agee to the Sheetz in his marked, Franklin County patrol cruiser.

A witness told police that Deputy Agee stepped out of his car, and shot Jennifer Agee multiple times while she was outside her car.

Chief Perkins added that investigators believed Jennifer Agee had one other person in her car, and that person was likely a child.

Police believe Agee then sped off, and eventually was spotted on Route 460 in Montgomery County.

Roanoke Police say Jennifer Agee died sometime after the shooting.

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1:38 p.m.

Roanoke City Police confirm to WSLS that a woman was killed in the shooting at the Williamson Road Sheetz, and that the suspect is a Franklin County Sheriff's deputy.

Police spokeswoman Aisha Johnson says officers were called around 11:30 a.m. to the Sheetz parking lot.

Investigators say a woman had pulled in, and her ex-husband followed her in while driving a different car.

Officers say the man pulled out a gun, and shot the woman, who later died.

Investigators believe the shooter is a Franklin County Sheriff's deputy, and that the woman who was killed is his ex-wife.

Johnson could not confirm whether the shooting at the Sheetz was connected to the Ironto incident.

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12:43 p.m.

Roanoke City Police spokeswoman Aisha Johnson confirms the incident at Sheetz is a shooting investigation.

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12:18 p.m.

Roanoke City Police officers have blocked off part of the Sheetz on Williamson Road, across from the Roanoke Civic Center.

A WSLS crew on the scene can see officers interviewing people, and a foensics team has arrived as of 12:15 p.m.

We're trying to get additional information.