Scott Allen Hylton, 43, was killed while on duty in Christiansburg, Virginia, on the morning of May 9, 2003. A patrol officer with the Christiansburg Police Department for about a year and a law enforcement veteran of roughly 20 years, Hylton had volunteered for that shift. He responded to a shoplifting call at a Roanoke Street gas station at about 5:30 a.m.

According to reports, the suspect, identified as 21-year-old Christopher Allen Holmes of Christiansburg, attacked Hylton in his patrol car, pulled him from the vehicle and beat him, then took Hylton’s .40 caliber service weapon. Holmes fired at the convenience store and then shot the officer multiple times while Hylton was on the ground. Hylton was airlifted to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital and died shortly after arrival. Holmes was later shot and killed after exchanging gunfire with a Montgomery County deputy and two other officers; Deputy Eric Sutphin was grazed by a bullet and released from the hospital.

The encounter began with a report of a stolen pack of cigarettes and ended with the deaths of both the officer and the suspect. If anyone knew Officer Hylton, his patrol activity, or the events at that gas station that morning, please share what is remembered.