VIRGINIA — Members of the Roanoke Police Department are searching for a wanted man believed to have been involved in an officer-involved shooting early Saturday morning.
According to police, the incident occurred May 23, 2026, at approximately 12:09 a.m. in the 1000 block of Orange Avenue NE. Officers reportedly observed a vehicle connected to a wanted individual parked at a gas pump and attempted to conduct a high-risk warrant service.
Police said two patrol vehicles were positioned in front of and behind the suspect vehicle. Officers exited their patrol cars and began giving verbal commands for the driver to exit the vehicle.
According to investigators, the driver then put the vehicle in reverse and struck the rear patrol vehicle. The vehicle then moved forward toward one of the officers, prompting the officer to fire his weapon. Police said the vehicle moved forward again in the direction of the same officer, striking the front patrol vehicle, and additional shots were fired into the vehicle before it drove away from the scene.
The vehicle was later found abandoned a few blocks away in the 900 block of Connecticut Avenue NE. Authorities said the search for the driver remains ongoing.
Police identified the driver as 43-year-old Larry Ranson Cooper, who is listed as having no fixed address. According to investigators, Cooper is wanted on a felony probation violation warrant out of Pulaski County and a misdemeanor assault on a family member warrant from the city of Roanoke connected to an incident reported about four hours before the shooting.
In accordance with department policy, the Virginia State Police has been notified and will investigate the incident.
Both officers involved were taken to a local hospital for evaluation and later cleared. Police said the officers have been placed on administrative leave following department procedures.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information about Cooper’s location or the incident is asked to contact the Roanoke Police Department at (540) 344-8500.
