Police Release More Details in Shooting At Skyline Drive

FRONT ROYAL, Va. (AP) - Police released more information Wednesday about the incident Sunday in which officers fatally shot a motorist during a traffic stop along Skyline Drive.

The driver of the minivan who was shot and killed was identified as Christopher N. Lanum, 25, of Fort Eustis, Va. Police say Lanum was wanted by Fort Eustis officials for an attempted homicide that occurred early Sunday morning at the military installation.

Police had attempted to to stop the 1999 Ford minivan as it travelled southbound on Skyline Drive, within the national park. The pursuit continued southbound, and then northbound on Skyline Drive. Police say the van finally stopped for police about a tenth of a mile from the exit for Route 340 in Warren County.

Police say as State Troopers and other law enforcement approached the vehicle, they observed a gun in the driver's possession. Shots were fired and Lanum was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger inside the minivan was injured during the shooting, but those injuries were not considered life threatening.

The incident is being jointly investigated by the FBI, the Virginia State Police and the National Park Service. The trooper and the park rangers involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of the investigation.