Knife-wielding man shot, killed outside Woodbridge fire station identified

WOODBRIDGE, Va. - A Prince William County officer is on routine leave after a deadly shooting. It happened early Thursday morning outside a fire station. 

Officials say the officer involved was wrapping up a shift, fueling up at a gas pump on the complex property near the police and fire stations when police say he was alerted about an armed man on the property.

The officer saw the man in the parking lot brandishing a knife and police say the man began to approach the officer. Prince William County officials say after the man reportedly ignored commands to drop the weapon, the officer fired, hitting the man in the upper body.

The man was given first-aid by officers and fire personnel from the fire station and was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries. He has since been identified as 58-year-old Michael David Burke. 

Yellow tape was wrapped around the parking lot on Davis Ford Road for hours as police investigated. They say right now, it’s not clear why Burke was on the property early this morning or if mental health is a factor.

A critical response team will now take over the investigation and present it to the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office. An administrative investigation will determine whether the use of force was within the police department’s policy.

"We consider this place a home away from home here. When we’re responding here and we’re back at the gas pump, we exhale a little bit. This is a place of safety for us, so this is very impactful for the officer that was involved," said Prince William County Police Chief Peter Newsham.

The officer involved has not been identified but we do know he’s a two-year veteran with the department. Police add that he’s not injured but a bit shaken up from this incident.

The shooting remains under investigation.

Prince William County Police