Gunman said he’d die to stay out of jail, ex-girlfriend says

In this November 2014 photo provided by the Virginia State Police, trooper Chad P. Dermyer poses for a photo as he receives his graduation diploma from Superintendent Col. W. Steven Flaherty. Virginia State Police Superintendent Col. Steven Flaherty says Dermyer, died Thursday, March 31, 2016 after being shot multiple times responding to a call at a Greyhound bus station in Richmond. The gunman was shot dead by two other troopers. (Virginia State Police via AP) In this November 2014 photo provided by the Virginia State Police, trooper Chad P. Dermyer poses for a photo as he receives his graduation diploma from Superintendent Col. W. Steven Flaherty. Virginia State Police Superintendent Col. Steven Flaherty says Dermyer, died Thursday, March 31, 2016 after being shot multiple times responding to a call at a Greyhound bus station in Richmond. The gunman was shot dead by two other troopers. (Virginia State Police via AP)

By Associated Press April 2, 2016 4 min read

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – An ex-girlfriend of the gunman at a Virginia bus station said Friday he frequently expressed his hatred toward police and once nearly choked her to death after she broke up with him.

James Brown III was killed Thursday by two Virginia state troopers after authorities say he fatally shot Trooper Chad P. Dermyer at a Richmond Greyhound station.

Brown, 34, who had a lengthy criminal record, previously said he would rather die fighting police than return to prison, the ex-girlfriend said.

“He wanted to be one of those guys that just died killing police officers because they are not taking him back to jail,” she said.

She spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because she said she fears for her safety.