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Witness: Va. gunman was talking to wife when shot

By Associated Press
SHARE Witness: Va. gunman was talking to wife when shot
Investigators search the scene of a Sunday shootout at a salvage yard Monday, March 14, 2011 in Vansant, Va. A gunman opened fire on sheriff's deputies responding to a robbery call at a rural salvage yard on Sunday, killing two and injuring two others bef

Investigators search the scene of a Sunday shootout at a salvage yard Monday, March 14, 2011 in Vansant, Va. A gunman opened fire on sheriff’s deputies responding to a robbery call at a rural salvage yard on Sunday, killing two and injuring two others before being killed in a shootout, Virginia State Police said. One of the injured deputies suffered life-threatening injuries. The other was in serious condition, State Police said.

Jeff Gentner, Associated Press
1 of 11
**CORRECTS THAT CHARLES WAS WOUNDED, NOT KILLED**An undated photo provided by the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office shows Buchanan County Deputy Shane Charles. Charles, 25, was wounded in a stand-off Sunday, March 13, 2011 in Vansant, Va.

**CORRECTS THAT CHARLES WAS WOUNDED, NOT KILLED**An undated photo provided by the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office shows Buchanan County Deputy Shane Charles. Charles, 25, was wounded in a stand-off Sunday, March 13, 2011 in Vansant, Va.

Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office, Associated Press
2 of 11
An undated photo provided by the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office shows Buchanan County Deputy William Stilter. Stiltner was shot and killed in a stand-off Sunday, March 13, 2011 in Vansant, Va.

An undated photo provided by the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office shows Buchanan County Deputy William Stilter. Stiltner was shot and killed in a stand-off Sunday, March 13, 2011 in Vansant, Va.

Buchanan Sheriff’s Office, Associated Press
3 of 11
A sign at the Huddle House is shown along Riverside Drive Monday, March 14, 2011 in Grundy, Va. A gunman opened fire on sheriff's deputies responding to a robbery call at a rural salvage yard on Sunday in near-by Vansant, killing two and injuring two othe

A sign at the Huddle House is shown along Riverside Drive Monday, March 14, 2011 in Grundy, Va. A gunman opened fire on sheriff’s deputies responding to a robbery call at a rural salvage yard on Sunday in near-by Vansant, killing two and injuring two others before being killed in a shootout, Virginia State Police said.

Jeff Gentner, Associated Press
4 of 11
Roger Daniels talks Monday, March 14, 2011 about hiding under a truck at his salvage yard on Sunday to avoid being shot in a police shootout in Vansant, Va. A gunman opened fire on Buchanan County sheriff's deputies responding to a robbery call, killing t

Roger Daniels talks Monday, March 14, 2011 about hiding under a truck at his salvage yard on Sunday to avoid being shot in a police shootout in Vansant, Va. A gunman opened fire on Buchanan County sheriff’s deputies responding to a robbery call, killing two and injuring two others before he was killed in a shootout, Virginia State Police said.

Jeff Gentner, Associated Press
5 of 11
Police tape blocks off the area around a small salvage yard along Deskins Road Monday, March 14, 2011 in Vansant, Va. A gunman opened fire on sheriff's deputies responding to a robbery call at a rural salvage yard on Sunday, killing two and injuring two o

Police tape blocks off the area around a small salvage yard along Deskins Road Monday, March 14, 2011 in Vansant, Va. A gunman opened fire on sheriff’s deputies responding to a robbery call at a rural salvage yard on Sunday, killing two and injuring two others before being killed in a shootout, Virginia State Police said. One of the injured deputies suffered life-threatening injuries. The other was in serious condition, State Police said.

Jeff Gentner, Associated Press
6 of 11
Investigators exit the woods at the scene of a shoot out at a salvage yard Monday, March 14, 2011 in Vansant, Va. A gunman opened fire on sheriff's deputies responding to a robbery call at a rural salvage yard on Sunday, killing two and injuring two other

Investigators exit the woods at the scene of a shoot out at a salvage yard Monday, March 14, 2011 in Vansant, Va. A gunman opened fire on sheriff’s deputies responding to a robbery call at a rural salvage yard on Sunday, killing two and injuring two others before being killed in a shootout, Virginia State Police said.

Jeff Gentner, Associated Press
7 of 11
The window of Buchanan Sheriff's vehicle is shown with a bullet hole at a salvage yard Monday, March 14, 2011 in Vansant, Va. A gunman opened fire on sheriff's deputies responding to a robbery call at a rural salvage yard on Sunday, killing two and injuri

The window of Buchanan Sheriff’s vehicle is shown with a bullet hole at a salvage yard Monday, March 14, 2011 in Vansant, Va. A gunman opened fire on sheriff’s deputies responding to a robbery call at a rural salvage yard on Sunday, killing two and injuring two others before being killed in a shootout, Virginia State Police said. (AP Photo/Jeff Gentner)

Jeff Gentner, Associated Press
8 of 11
Investigators search the scene of a Sunday shootout at a salvage yard Monday, March 14, 2011 in Vansant, Va. A gunman opened fire on sheriff's deputies responding to a robbery call at a rural salvage yard on Sunday, killing two and injuring two others bef

Investigators search the scene of a Sunday shootout at a salvage yard Monday, March 14, 2011 in Vansant, Va. A gunman opened fire on sheriff’s deputies responding to a robbery call at a rural salvage yard on Sunday, killing two and injuring two others before being killed in a shootout, Virginia State Police said.

Jeff Gentner, Associated Press
9 of 11
Police tape blocks off the area around a small salvage yard along Deskins Road Monday, March 14, 2011 in Vansant, Va. A gunman opened fire on sheriff's deputies responding to a robbery call at a rural salvage yard on Sunday, killing two and injuring two o

Police tape blocks off the area around a small salvage yard along Deskins Road Monday, March 14, 2011 in Vansant, Va. A gunman opened fire on sheriff’s deputies responding to a robbery call at a rural salvage yard on Sunday, killing two and injuring two others before being killed in a shootout, Virginia State Police said.

Jeff Gentner, Associated Press
10 of 11
Investigators search the scene of a Sunday shootout at a salvage yard Monday, March 14, 2011 in Vansant, Va. A gunman opened fire on sheriff's deputies responding to a robbery call at a rural salvage yard on Sunday, killing two and injuring two others bef

Investigators search the scene of a Sunday shootout at a salvage yard Monday, March 14, 2011 in Vansant, Va. A gunman opened fire on sheriff’s deputies responding to a robbery call at a rural salvage yard on Sunday, killing two and injuring two others before being killed in a shootout, Virginia State Police said.

Jeff Gentner, Associated Press
11 of 11
Investigators search the scene of a Sunday shootout at a salvage yard Monday, March 14, 2011 in Vansant, Va. A gunman opened fire on sheriff's deputies responding to a robbery call at a rural salvage yard on Sunday, killing two and injuring two others bef
**CORRECTS THAT CHARLES WAS WOUNDED, NOT KILLED**An undated photo provided by the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office shows Buchanan County Deputy Shane Charles. Charles, 25, was wounded in a stand-off Sunday, March 13, 2011 in Vansant, Va.
An undated photo provided by the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office shows Buchanan County Deputy William Stilter. Stiltner was shot and killed in a stand-off Sunday, March 13, 2011 in Vansant, Va.
A sign at the Huddle House is shown along Riverside Drive Monday, March 14, 2011 in Grundy, Va. A gunman opened fire on sheriff's deputies responding to a robbery call at a rural salvage yard on Sunday in near-by Vansant, killing two and injuring two othe
Roger Daniels talks Monday, March 14, 2011 about hiding under a truck at his salvage yard on Sunday to avoid being shot in a police shootout in Vansant, Va. A gunman opened fire on Buchanan County sheriff's deputies responding to a robbery call, killing t
Police tape blocks off the area around a small salvage yard along Deskins Road Monday, March 14, 2011 in Vansant, Va. A gunman opened fire on sheriff's deputies responding to a robbery call at a rural salvage yard on Sunday, killing two and injuring two o
Investigators exit the woods at the scene of a shoot out at a salvage yard Monday, March 14, 2011 in Vansant, Va. A gunman opened fire on sheriff's deputies responding to a robbery call at a rural salvage yard on Sunday, killing two and injuring two other
The window of Buchanan Sheriff's vehicle is shown with a bullet hole at a salvage yard Monday, March 14, 2011 in Vansant, Va. A gunman opened fire on sheriff's deputies responding to a robbery call at a rural salvage yard on Sunday, killing two and injuri
Investigators search the scene of a Sunday shootout at a salvage yard Monday, March 14, 2011 in Vansant, Va. A gunman opened fire on sheriff's deputies responding to a robbery call at a rural salvage yard on Sunday, killing two and injuring two others bef
Police tape blocks off the area around a small salvage yard along Deskins Road Monday, March 14, 2011 in Vansant, Va. A gunman opened fire on sheriff's deputies responding to a robbery call at a rural salvage yard on Sunday, killing two and injuring two o
Investigators search the scene of a Sunday shootout at a salvage yard Monday, March 14, 2011 in Vansant, Va. A gunman opened fire on sheriff's deputies responding to a robbery call at a rural salvage yard on Sunday, killing two and injuring two others bef

VANSANT, Va. — A witness says a gunman who fatally shot two sheriff's deputies and wounded two others in southwestern Virginia was talking to his wife on a cell phone before the suspect pulled out a gun and police shot him to death.

State Police said Monday that suspect Randy Newberry was killed about a quarter-mile from a salvage yard where the shootout with deputies took place.

Jim Conley lives at the home where Newberry was shot. Conley tells The Associated Press that Newberry had asked him to use a phone.

Conley says he later learned from police that Newberry told his wife he was going to be killed as police closed in on him.

A woman who answered the telephone at Newberry's house declined comment.

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