Michael D. Chandler, a police officer in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, was fatally shot on November 13, 2021, while responding to a welfare check at a residence associated with drug trafficking. Chandler died that evening on his 29th birthday, leaving behind his wife and young daughter. The gunman, Michael Donivan White, fled to Tennessee but was subsequently arrested and linked to the shooting through forensic evidence. White pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in Virginia and separate federal charges involving the killing, firearms offenses, and a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy. He received two 100-year prison sentences in February and March 2025. In June 2026, White filed a federal motion seeking to vacate or correct his sentence, although no successful challenge to his conviction or sentence has been verified.
Who Was Police Officer Michael Chandler?
Michael D. Chandler was an American police officer and volunteer firefighter who served the community of Big Stone Gap in Wise County, southwestern Virginia.
He grew up in Wise County and graduated from Powell Valley High School in 2011, where he played football. He was the last player to score a touchdown for Powell Valley before the school merged into Union High School.
Following a family tradition of public service, Chandler joined the Big Stone Gap Fire Department in 2015. He subsequently became a police officer with the Big Stone Gap Police Department in January 2019.
Chandler was married to Natasha Chandler, and they had a young daughter. Outside work, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and outdoor activities in the Appalachian Mountains.
He was 28 when he began his final shift and turned 29 on the day he was killed.
November 13, 2021: Chandler Responds to a Welfare Check
At approximately 4 a.m. on November 13, 2021, Chandler was asked to conduct a welfare check at 2505 Orr Street in Big Stone Gap.
The residence, locally known as the "red house," was familiar to police because of previous calls involving disturbances, drug activity, overdoses, and other incidents.
When Chandler arrived, he encountered a vehicle outside the house. Inside were Michael Donivan White and Misty Lynn Ward, both associated with a drug trafficking operation.
According to federal court documents, White became concerned about being arrested because the vehicle contained illegal drugs.
He instructed Ward to leave, but after she stopped and exited the vehicle, White attempted to escape. The vehicle became stuck in the grass.
Chandler requested backup and approached the driver's side window while attempting to investigate the situation.
Michael Donivan White Shoots Chandler Eight Times
As Chandler approached the vehicle, White produced a Taurus 9 mm handgun and fired eight rounds through the driver's side window and door.
Two bullets struck Chandler, injuring his wrist and abdomen. The abdominal wound entered just below his protective vest.
A Wise County Sheriff's Office deputy arrived shortly afterward and found Chandler unconscious in a ditch near the driveway.
Emergency personnel transported him to Norton Community Hospital before he was flown to Johnson City Medical Center in Tennessee.
Despite medical treatment, Chandler died at approximately 7 p.m., surrounded by family members.
His death occurred on his 29th birthday.
Michael White Arrested in Kingsport, Tennessee
Following the shooting, authorities launched a search for White across southwestern Virginia and northeastern Tennessee.
Investigators located him at the Travel Inn motel on Lynn Garden Drive in Kingsport, Tennessee.
Officers from the Kingsport Police Department arrested him without incident.
A search of his motel room uncovered a Taurus 9 mm handgun. Subsequent forensic testing established that the weapon had fired the shots that killed Chandler.
The firearm evidence became an important part of the investigation and later federal prosecution.
Investigation Reveals a Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy
The investigation also uncovered a drug trafficking operation involving White and 18 other defendants.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the group began operating around August 2021 and distributed methamphetamine brought into southwestern Virginia from Tennessee and other states.
The conspiracy involved more than 15 kilograms of methamphetamine, along with heroin and fentanyl.
Investigators identified properties on Orr Street as locations used to facilitate drug distribution and related criminal activities.
In May 2023, federal prosecutors filed a civil forfeiture complaint seeking to seize two properties at 2505 and 2512 Orr Street because of their alleged involvement in the trafficking operation.
White's attempt to avoid arrest while possessing drugs and a firearm was central to the prosecution's explanation of why Chandler was killed.
Michael White Pleads Guilty to Murder in 2024
On May 30, 2024, White pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in Wise County Circuit Court.
On June 12, 2024, he also pleaded guilty to eight federal counts involving Chandler's death, drug trafficking, and firearms offenses.
The federal charges included causing a death through the use of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of firearms as a convicted felon.
His guilty pleas resolved the principal criminal charges without a contested murder trial.
Michael White Receives Two 100-Year Prison Sentences
On February 21, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia sentenced White to 100 years in federal prison.
The sentence addressed the murder-related federal offense and his participation in the drug trafficking and firearms conspiracy.
On March 13, 2025, Wise County Circuit Court imposed a separate 100-year sentence for first-degree murder under Virginia law.
The two sentences are frequently described as totaling 200 years. However, they were imposed by different courts in separate criminal proceedings.
The combined nominal sentence length should not be used to infer a specific release date without examining the applicable sentencing and custody rules.
All 19 Drug Conspiracy Defendants Sentenced
Federal prosecutors continued pursuing the remaining defendants involved in the drug trafficking conspiracy.
On March 19, 2025, Brian Carroll, the final defendant awaiting sentencing, received a 108-month federal prison sentence.
The Justice Department announced the following day that all 19 defendants involved in the drug conspiracy had been convicted and sentenced.
The conclusion of those proceedings marked a significant milestone in the investigation connected to Chandler's death.
Michael White Files Federal Court Challenge in June 2026
A subsequent development emerged on June 8, 2026, when Michael Donivan White filed a proceeding against the United States in the Western District of Virginia.
The case, White v. USA, was registered under docket number 2:2026cv81581.
The docket categorizes the filing as a motion under 28 U.S.C. Section 2255, a legal procedure through which a federal prisoner may seek to vacate, set aside, or correct a sentence on specified legal grounds.
The available public docket summary confirms the existence and filing date of the proceeding but does not establish the merits of White's arguments or a final judicial outcome.
As of November 2026, no verified ruling granting relief from his federal sentence was identified in the sources reviewed.
How Michael Chandler Was Honored
Chandler's death prompted widespread mourning among police officers, firefighters, and residents of Wise County.
In January 2022, the Virginia General Assembly adopted House Joint Resolution No. 51, formally recognizing his life, public service, and dedication to his community.
The resolution acknowledged his work as a volunteer firefighter and police officer and expressed sympathy to his family.
He also received a posthumous Award for Valor from the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police.
His death remains a significant loss for the Big Stone Gap community, where he is remembered for his service and commitment to public safety.
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