Soldier Accused of Killing New York Trooper After Domestic Dispute

CNN/Stylemagazine.com Newswire | 7/10/2017, 9:24 a.m.
A New York state trooper was shot dead Sunday night while responding to a domestic dispute in Jefferson County.
New York state trooper Joel R. Davis has been shot dead while responding to a domestic dispute on Sunday, July 9, 2017 in Jefferson County, police say.

By Joe Sutton and Susannah Cullinane

CNN

(CNN) -- A New York state trooper was shot dead Sunday night while responding to a domestic dispute in Jefferson County.

An army soldier is suspected in the death. The body of the GI's wife was found on the scene.

Trooper Joel R. Davis was killed as he approached a residence in the town of Theresa after reports of shots being fired, New York State Police Superintendent George P. Beach said in a statement.

Justin D. Walters, 32, surrendered without incident, the statement said.

The body of his wife, Nichole V. Walters, 27, was found there. Police said a second woman living in a shed on the property also had been shot, but that her injuries were not life-threatening, CNN affiliate WWNY reported.

Davis was a 36-year-old father of three, assigned to the town of Philadelphia, Beach said.

"The entire New York family grieves today," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. "His death is yet another sad reminder of the risks law enforcement officers face each day in order to protect our communities and serve the residents of this great state."

Walters is an active-duty staff sergeant stationed at Fort Drum, Beach's statement said.

He enrolled in March 2007, Army records show. Walters was deployed to Afghanistan twice, from January 2009 to January 2010 and from March 2011 to March 2012.

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