On the evening of May 26, 2017, Virginia State Police Special Agent Michael T. Walter, 45, was shot while on patrol in the Mosby Court public housing complex in Richmond, Virginia. Walter, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and an 18-year Virginia State Police trooper, and a Richmond police officer had approached a Chevrolet Cobalt that was parked on the wrong side of the street. As the Richmond officer spoke with the driver, Walter approached the passenger side and was struck by a single gunshot fired by the passenger.

The shooter fled on foot and an overnight manhunt followed. Walter was taken to VCU Medical Center and died in the early hours of May 27, 2017. Investigation identified 27-year-old Travis A. Ball of Richmond as the suspect; he was arrested the next morning in Northumberland County and held without bond. Ball was charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, with additional charges pending. Court filings say Ball had a prior felony record and, two days before the shooting, sent text messages saying he would not go back to jail and would ’end up killing something.’

Did anyone in Richmond or Mosby Court see the Cobalt or the occupants that night who hasn’t yet spoken with police?