Michael Donivan White, 36, of South Carolina, was sentenced to 100 years in federal prison on Friday, following his conviction for the November 2021 murder of Big Stone Gap Police Officer Michael Chandler, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
White pleaded guilty to eight charges in connection with Chandler’s death.
Details of the Murder
The events unfolded early on November 13, 2021, when Officer Chandler responded to a dispatch call at a residence in Big Stone Gap, referred to locally as “the red house.” Upon his arrival, Chandler encountered a suspicious vehicle and requested backup, notifying dispatch that the car was attempting to flee.
Inside the vehicle, White told his co-defendant, Misty Ward, to drive off quickly due to the presence of drugs and his fear of going back to jail. Ward briefly began driving away but stopped and exited the vehicle. White, attempting to escape, attempted to flee but became stuck in the grass.
As Chandler approached the vehicle’s driver’s side, White fired eight shots through the window, hitting Chandler in the abdomen just below his bulletproof vest. Chandler succumbed to his injuries later that evening.
Statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office
Acting U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Lee commented on the sentence, stating, “No matter how righteous our prosecution was or how just this sentence is, no amount of jail time can bring back Officer Chandler.” White’s sentence serves as a response to his violent actions, but it cannot reverse the tragic loss of Officer Chandler’s life.
