In the middle of 2022, law enforcement in Rockingham County, Virginia, were notified of a gunfire incident. On reaching the scene, they discovered the severely injured body of a man named Ronald Brunk with a critical gunshot wound on his chest. Every effort was made to save him but sadly, Ronald’s life could not be saved. Hence, the authorities initiated a detailed investigation to uncover the events leading to this tragic incident.
Gerald Leroy Brunk and Sharon Brunk had been life-partners in Cheverly, Maryland, where they nurtured and cared for their offsprings, Ronald Dennis ‘Ronnie’ Brunk being one amongst them. A brother to Renee and Richard ‘Richie’, Ronnie, as he was affectionally known, was a lively part of their energetic trio, fostering a unique bond with his siblings. Ronnie had ambitious plans which stretched way beyond the confines of his humble origins.
Overflowing with a sense of adventure and a zeal to explore what life had to offer, Ronnie decided to venture out into the world. In the meantime, his family decided to shift to Rockingham County, Virginia. Here he fulfilled his high school education, enrolling at Turner Ashby High School, completing in 1977. Although he had left behind his birthplace, Ronnie established a profound bond with his new township, Harrisonburg, and felt no compelling need to search further.
A majority of Ronnie’s professional life, totaling 34 years, was dedicated to Mast & Brunk, a reputed construction firm where his roles varied from being an associate to the vice president of operations. His proactive approach to work was a testament to his dedication which also reflected prominently in his personal life. Marriage tied him to Donna Brunk and they were blessed with two children, Aaron and Adam.
Ronnie held his family life in high regard, striving to spend as much time as possible with his two sons. Their mutual passion for baseball became a vital bonding factor. He took up coaching responsibilities for his sons in Bridgewater Little League, leading them through various levels from T-ball to Senior League suggesting a progressive growth. His affection for the sport also drove him to join the Rockingham County Baseball League in 2007.
In the year 2010, he made the transition from the Rockingham County Baseball League to Montezuma, in a move to mentor his son, Adam. His contributions to the Braves, the team he managed from 2012 to 2019, was significant and even after the managerial role, he continued coaching for three more years. Ronnie was highly respected by his community as he was quite active in the Shenandoah Basketball Officials Association and the Harrisonburg Umpires Association.
Beyond his professional and passionate pursuits, Ronnie exhibited a strong character that extended into his personal relationships. His marriage with Donna might have ended, but they managed to maintain a respectful relationship devoid of resentment. Love managed to find its way back into Ronnie’s life when he met Lauren Jefferson and the two eventually decided to marry.
As the prospect of retirement began looming over the horizon, he expressed his interests in spending more time enjoying outdoor activities, fishing being a favorite. Being a member of the board at Montezuma Ruritans, Ronnie hoped to engage more actively within the organization. Everyone could see that he seemed in high spirits, ready to transition into a relaxed state of existence.
On the night of June 15, 2022, an unexpected call came from Ronald’s office. It was a report about unauthorised access to his office building. When the police reached the scene, they found Ronald’s motionless body with a bullet wound on his chest. Despite their attempts to perform CPR, they couldn’t revive him and he was declared dead on the scene, leading to an immediate investigation.
Police started gathering accounts from eye witnesses present at the scene. It didn’t take too long for them to pinpoint the aggressor. The perpetrator turned out to be Richard Dwayne Brunk, Ronnie’s own brother. It was reported that Richard had arrived in his pickup truck, intentionally parking it in a way that obstructed the entrance to Ronnie’s vehicle. According to the eye witnesses, a verbal spat began between the siblings that turned into a physical feud.
The verbal altercation between the brothers quickly escalated into a physical brawl. Post their separation, Richard walked to his truck, returned with a 12-gauge shotgun and shot a fatal bullet at Ronald. The police managed to find and arrest Richard from his residence in Weyers Cave, Virginia. He was found in a fresh set of clothes that replaced the ones he had worn during the incident. A bloodied shirt was found in his possession, confirmed by forensics to be his own.
During his interrogation, Richard confessed to confronting his brother about an arrest warrant issued against him. However, their conversation spiralled out of control leading to a heated exchange and ultimately, the tragic event itself. He described the events that led up to the heart-wrenching incident.
In the closing weeks of 2023, Richard was put to trial. He was pronounced guilty of second-degree murder and illegal firearm usage. By April 2024, the court passed the verdict, sentencing Richard to 43 years of imprisonment. Serving his sentence, Richard found himself in another complication, being accused in a murder-for-hire scheme targeting Renee Banner, his sister, and Marsha L. Garst, Rockingham County Commonwealth’s Attorney.
The same attorney had prosecuted his case, and his defense team had previously requested her removal from his trial, albeit unsuccessfully. Richard, now in his sixties, is incarcerated at the Pocahontas State Correctional Center awaiting trial for his new charges. His previous release date was projected to be in 2059, however, no trial date has been confirmed for his new case, which has already been postponed several times.