Incident
Police Officer Chris Wagner was shot and killed after responding to a domestic disturbance call at a home on Arrowood Lane at about 10:00 pm.
A man had assaulted two other men in the home and then left the residence. Officer Wagner located the subject in the woods line near the house after arriving at the scene. A struggle ensued, during which Officer Wagner was shot and killed with his own duty weapon. The subject was also shot during the struggle.
The subject was arrested by other Wintergreen police officers and deputies from the Nelson County Sheriff's Office. He was charged with capital murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and two counts of malicious wounding. In February 2025, he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, use of a firearm, and malicious wounding, and was sentenced in September 2025 to 40 years for second-degree murder, three years for use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and five years for malicious wounding.
Officer Wagner had served with the Wintergreen Police Department for three years and had previously served as a police officer with the Massanutten Police Department for one year.
Survivors
He is survived by his mother, father, stepfather, stepmother, three brothers, and a sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-E2FB6B2E- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Wagner gave the Wintergreen Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Roseland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Wagner.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Mark Christopher Wagner, II is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In VA, 394 of 655 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.2% of this state's fallen. That is 60.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Mark Christopher Wagner, II's cause is highlighted.
How Mark Christopher Wagner, II Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Mark Christopher Wagner, II is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Mark Christopher Wagner, II was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Wintergreen Police Department are honored on badge.nw.