Will Morva Cop Killer

Im blogging about this for a couple of reasons. First, I am a proud Virginian, and this happened just over the mountains from where I live. Second, there are stories that Democratic Governor Tim Kaine sent in an overpowering force of men to catch this guy, which is odd to me because it seems that the press may be trying to spin Kaine as being tough on crime.

Third, because Will Morva seems like a monumentally stupid person. He was originally jailed almost a year ago for attempted robbery of a convenience store in Blacksburg. His trial was continued twice and he spent almost a whole year in the county lockup awaiting his day in court. Just before trial, he went to the local hospital for a sprained wrist and ankle. While there, he overpowered a cop, took his gun and shot and killed a security guard at the hospital.

Then Will Morva ran. He was spotted on a trail near Blacksburg, near the Virginia Tech campus, and Morva shot and killed a policeman trying to apprehend him. He was finally captured today after a massive manhunt involving “considerable” State Police resources, courtesy of Gov. Tim.

Why did this idiot Morva not just go to court and plead guilty and hope for time already served? Did he have a long prior arrest record? I dunno. What should have been a small time robber turned into double murderer. Virginia is very quick to execute its cop killers.

From the AP here:

BLACKSBURG, Va – Police say they have captured a fugitive suspected of killing a hospital guard and a sheriff’s deputy near the Virginia Tech campus.

Police had swarmed the campus and ordered everyone inside Monday as heavily armed officers with dogs and in helicopters searched for the fugitive.

The Montgomery County Jail inmate, William Morva, 24, had escaped from a hospital where he had been taken for treatment of a sprained wrist and ankle early Sunday.

Monday morning, Sheriff’s Cpl. Eric E. Sutphin was closing in on Morva along a trail just off the university campus when Sutphin was fatally shot, the sheriff’s department said.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said he dispatched “considerable” Virginia State Police resources to the 2,600-acre campus and assured students’ parents that every effort was being made to minimize the danger.

According to police, Morva overpowered a sheriff’s deputy, took the deputy’s gun and then shot an unarmed hospital security guard, authorities said. The hospital guard was identified as Derrick McFarland, 26. The deputy was in stable condition with injuries he suffered in the attack.

Im glad that the Blacksburg Police had all the help they needed. But will Governor Kaine use this much manpower to catch all of the fugitives in VA?

Update: It seems that Morva was wanted in a string of armed robberies from last summer. He was definitely facing several years behind bars. He could have still had his sentence dramatically reduced for good behavior and time served.