CHRISTIANSBURG --The Montgomery County commonwealth's attorney said Tuesday he'll seek the death penalty for a man accused of killing a sheriff's deputy and a hospital security officer after escaping police custody.

William Charles Morva, 24, was charged last week with capital murder and use of a firearm in the Aug. 20 shooting death of Derrick McFarland, a security officer at Montgomery Regional Hospital.

In a news conference Tuesday morning, Commonwealth's Attorney Brad Finch said he will seek a second capital murder charge in the shooting death of Montgomery County Sheriff's Cpl. Eric Sutphin.

Sutphin was gunned down as he patrolled the Huckleberry Trail on bicycle Aug. 21, the day after Morva escaped and McFarland was fatally shot.

"We do intend to seek the death penalty in this case," Finch said as he stood in the Montgomery County Courthouse's law library, flanked by officials from the Christiansburg and Blacksburg police departments and the Virginia State Police.

Finch said he waited until Tuesday to announce the new charges out of respect for the victims and their families.

At the next regular grand jury meeting on Oct. 10, the jury will decide whether Morva should face the second capital murder and firearms charges. It is rare for a grand jury not to certify charges.

The next day, Morva faces a preliminary hearing on the charges filed in connection with McFarland's shooting.

Morva escaped after he was taken to Montgomery Regional Hospital by a Montgomery County deputy, who authorities are declining to name. Morva had reported falling out of bed and injuring his wrist and ankle. At the hospital, Morva knocked out the deputy and stole his gun, officials have said. When McFarland, who was unarmed, tried to help the deputy, Morva shot him, officials said.

Morva fled from the hospital and a manhunt ensued that eventually prompted Virginia Tech to cancel classes on the first day of school, send students to their dorms and evacuate its staff.

It was during the search for Morva that Sutphin was shot on the popular Huckleberry Trail walking and cycling link between Blacksburg and Christiansburg. Some eight hours later, Morva was captured about 150 yards away.

Officials have released no details on the circumstances surrounding Sutphin's death, including whether Sutphin was alone and whether he wore a bulletproof vest.

On Monday, Montgomery County Board of Supervisors Chairman Steve Spradlin said he thought Sutphin had finished his shift, but stayed out on patrol.

Finch said Tuesday that releasing details of Sutphin's death might harm the prosecution's case against Morva.

He also declined to comment on the charges faced by Morva's older brother, Michael Akos Morva.

Michael Morva has been charged with conspiring with his brother to escape police custody. According to court documents, that conspiracy occurred in January. Michael and William Morva were both in jail then on charges related to attempted thefts. Michael Morva was released on bond in January, but William Morva was kept in jail.

Montgomery County Sheriff Tommy Whitt said Tuesday that he was extremely pleased by the outpouring of community support during and after the search for William Morva. Businesses donated food and drinks for law enforcement officers, and residents offered their help.

"I've not seen anything quite so dynamic in my 30 years in law enforcement," Whitt said.

Memorial funds have been set up for the families of McFarland and Sutphin, and the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office held a car wash Saturday that raised $11,300 for the families.

"It's just phenomenal. We couldn't believe it," said sheriff's office Lt. Brian Wright. "We were washing three cars at a time."

Many people donated money without waiting to have their cars washed, he said.

Whitt said he believes the car wash was an important opportunity for law enforcement officers to gather and show their support.

"A lot of healing took place Saturday," he said.

Still, he said, it'll be a while before things are back to normal at the sheriff's office.

"We still hurt," Whitt said. "We reflect upon memories of him every day," he said of Sutphin.

Whitt said he thinks Sutphin is the first Montgomery County officer to be killed in the line of duty.

Staff writer Paul Dellinger contributed to this report.