Reserve Deputy Sheriff Thomas Dunigan was shot and killed while attempting to stop a bank robbery suspect.

   While visiting the county jail, an armed robbery was reported at the First National Bank of Martinsville in Waverly in which $4,000 was taken and Reserve Deputy Dunigan, who was off duty at the time, responded to the scene in a patrol car.

   Another deputy observed the suspect vehicle heading in the opposite direction but could not turn around to follow it due to snow in the median. The deputy gave the suspect's direction and Reserve Deputy Dunigan waited for the suspect at an exit.

   Several minutes later a passer-by made a radio transmission that a deputy had been shot. Reserve Deputy Dunigan was found with a shotgun wound to the head and taken to Morgan County Memorial Hospital in Martinsville where he was pronounced dead.

   The 42-year-old male suspect was later convicted by a jury and sentenced to life in prison for second-degree murder and 20 years for bank robbery. He died while serving his sentence in 2011.

   Reserve Deputy Sheriff Dunigan, from Martinsville, was survived by his wife, son, two daughters, mother, sister and three brothers.

Military Service United States Marine Corps