On a tragic afternoon in Covington, Virginia, 35-year-old Covington Police Officer Caleb Daniel Ogilvie, a male, lost his life in the line of duty. A former Marine who had served two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Ogilvie had been with the Covington Police Department since 2021.
The fatal incident unfolded on Monday, March 14, 2022, at a Farm & Fuel gas and convenience store on North Alleghany Avenue. The situation began around 4:30 p.m. as a domestic dispute inside the store involving 42-year-old Toney S. Poulston Jr. and his relative, 64-year-old Randall Lee Paxton, who was an employee at the store. The argument escalated dramatically, culminating in Poulston fatally shooting Paxton.
alerted to Poulston's escalating erratic behavior, Officer Ogilvie and other members of the Covington Police and Alleghany County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene. As law enforcement arrived, Poulston exited the store armed with a pistol and opened fire. A shootout ensued, during which both Officer Ogilvie and Poulston were fatally wounded. After the exchange of gunfire, officers entered the store and discovered Paxton deceased from a gunshot wound. Another employee, who was Paxton's wife and also related to Poulston, was present in the store but was not physically harmed.
The Virginia State Police conducted an investigation into the shootings. The investigation, which included a review of store video, body camera footage, and forensic evidence, determined that Poulston had shot his stepfather, Randall Paxton, at point-blank range. He then fired upon Officer Ogilvie and another officer in the parking lot. The Commonwealth's Attorney for Alleghany County and the City of Covington later released a report concluding that the law enforcement officers' actions were justified. The suspect, Toney Poulston Jr., was killed by responding officers at the scene. Officer Ogilvie was survived by his wife and four daughters.
