Trooper Warren Yokely Harless, Virginia State Police, Virginia

Trooper Warren Yokely Harless

Virginia State Police, Virginia

End of Watch Monday, November 18, 1968

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Warren Yokely Harless

Trooper Warren Harless was shot and killed in the Big Hill area of Lee County while assisting deputies with an arrest.

The subject had confronted several hunters at gunpoint and stole their rifles after they came onto his property.

When deputies and troopers arrived at the man's home he fled into the nearby hills and fired shots at them for almost 12 hours. Trooper Harless was shot towards the end of the standoff when the man fled back into his home. The suspect was shot and wounded before being taken into custody.

The suspect, 60, was adjudged insane and committed at Southwestern State Mental Hospital where he died on March 20, 1994.

Trooper Harless was survived by his three sons.

Bio

Age 38
Tour Not available
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Rifle; .30-.30
Offender Died in mental hospital

barricade, robbery

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Most Recent Reflection

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I remember the day that Hero, Trooper Warren Harless, died in the line of duty in Lee Co., VA after being shot by a mentally impaired man. My deceased wife, Carolyn and I, went regularly to church with him at the Jonesville First Baptist Church. He was a great influence to me, and I personally knew him, his family, and friends and later on became a Virginia State Trooper my self, 5 years after his death.

Trooper Gary C. Cope
Virginia State Police

February 4, 2024