17-02-2025
Suspect in Wintergreen cop's slaying pleads guilty to murder
LOVINGSTON – A Maryland man who killed a Wintergreen police officer in a 2023 drug-fueled attack pleaded guilty Friday to a reduced charge of second-degree murder in Nelson County Circuit Court, records show.
Daniel A. Barmak, 24, of Owings Mills, Maryland, shot and killed 31-year-old Christopher Wagner II the night of June 16, 2023, with the officer's gun. Wagner lived in Stuarts Draft and worked for the Wintergreen Police Department.
Barmak had been previously charged with aggravated murder of a law enforcement officer.
Testimony at a preliminary hearing held in January 2024 showed that Barmak went to Wintergreen with two friends for a weekend. After snorting more than 20 lines of ketamine over a two-day period, Barmak — who also brought along a large bag of psychedelic mushrooms — became erratic the second night of the trip, according to testimony. Two witnesses told police Barmak ingested ketamine, mushrooms, alcohol and smoked marijuana. Toxicology testing for ketamine was positive, according to court records.
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On June 16 while staying at on Arrowwood Lane in Wintergreen, Barmak and his two friends worked remotely before going to a local cider spot that afternoon, according to testimony. Afterward, they went on a hike. It was during the hike that Barmak began exhibiting strange behaviors.
Testimony showed after arriving back at the vacation home that he attacked his friends, stabbing one in the back and biting his ear, and hitting the other man in the face with a log before they both escaped outside.
After Wagner arrived at the scene, the police officer confronted Barmak behind the residence. Barmak became aggressive, resulting in Wagner using his Taser in an attempt to subdue him. Testimony showed the Taser had little impact.
As Barmak and Wagner tussled, seconds later a gunshot rang out. Wagner was found with a gunshot wound to the head, an officer testified.
Police later discovered Barmak completely nude and covered in blood and mud while crouched near a tree line. Subdued by a Wintergreen police officer and two Nelson County deputies who arrived at the scene, he was later spotted chewing gravel after being handcuffed. Barmak also violently hit his head on the ground multiple times.
Taken to the hospital, a bullet was removed from Barmak's leg, court records show.
Prior to his arrest, Barmak worked in the insurance industry and earned between $50,000 and $70,000 per year.
Besides pleading guilty to second-degree murder, he also pleaded guilty to two charges of malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. A two-day sentencing hearing in Nelson County Circuit Court is set to begin Sept. 29, court records show.
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Brad Zinn is the cops, courts and breaking news reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip? Or something that needs investigating? You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at bzinn@ You can also follow him on X (formerly Twitter)
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Daniel Barmak pleads guilty to second-degree murder
