Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Case Dismissed Against ATF Agent Tried for Murder In Virgin Islands

"It was so obvious on its face that they so flagrantly failed to meet their burden that a kindergarten student holding a gavel would have drawn the same conclusion," said Jon Adler, president of Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA).

October 28, 2010
2 min to read


A federal agent on trial in the Virgin Islands for murder has been cleared of wrongdoing, after the presiding judge dismissed the case Thursday.

Judge Edgar Ross dismissed the case against Will Clark, after prosecutors concluded their case. The trial had begun Monday.

Ad Loading...

"It was so obvious on its face that they so flagrantly failed to meet their burden that a kindergarten student holding a gavel would have drawn the same conclusion that Judge Ross did," Jon Adler, president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), tells POLICE Magazine.

The dismissal is also being reported by WHEC.com, an NBC affiliate in Rochester, N.Y., where Clark's family still lives. Rep. Chris Lee released a statement praising the judge's decision.

"As I have said from the beginning, Will is a hero, not a murderer, and I'm so grateful the judge looked at the facts of the case and agreed," according to Lee. "Our law enforcement officers need to know that they will not be prosecuted for taking lawful actions to protect the innocent, whether they are on duty or off."

Clark, 35, an agent of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, was on trial for second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter and using a dangerous weapon stemming from his shooting of Marcus Sukow during a domestic dispute.

Clark had come to the aid of a Sukow's girlfriend, Marguerite Duncan, during a domestic dispute. Sukow charged Clark with a large flashlight and ignored the agent's lawful orders, prior to Clark discharging his service weapon and killing Sukow.

Ad Loading...

In court, Duncan backpeddled on statements she initially made to investigators, testifying she had not asked Clark for help with an abusive boyfriend.

Defense attorney Mark Schamel had requested the case be dismissed because proper procedure was not followed in identifying Sukow's body to the medical examiner, according to an Associated Press report. Schamel said prosecutors owe Clark and his family an apology.

"My heart is smiling and crying for the Clark family," added Adler, who traveled to the Virgin Islands to observe the trial. "But at the same time I'm feeling a lot of anger for what the Virgin Islands prosecuting team subjected the Clark family to."

Investigations by the Department of Justice and ATF had concluded that Clark's shooting was justified.

More Patrol

image of trooper, shown from waist down, standing beside a police cruiser along the road and at right a headline Slow Down Move Over.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

Colorado State Patrol Releases 2025 Struck-By Analysis

The Colorado State Patrol, after analyzing its 2025 struck-by incidents, identified one area for improvement: using traffic cones to provide advanced warning before the cruiser's location. Here is the agency’s final data.

Read More →
Image of a group of men in business attire receiving an award set against a black background and a Streamlight logo up top.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

Streamlight Names 144th Marketing Group Law Enforcement Sales Rep Agency of the Year

Streamlight has recognized the 144th Marketing Group as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for the Law Enforcement market.

Read More →
Image of a group of men in business attire receiving an award set against a black background and a Streamlight logo up top.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

Streamlight Names 144th Marketing Group Law Enforcement Sales Rep Agency of the Year

Streamlight has recognized the 144th Marketing Group as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for the Law Enforcement market.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
DArk backgroundn with inset images of a fallen police officer and a ballistic helmet and headline Rife-Rated.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

The Mission After the Moment

The mission of the Jorge Pastore Foundation is to support first responders through essential training, stronger community engagement, and mental wellness resources, all accessible and funded through donations, sponsorships, and foundation-led fundraising. It works closely with Team Wendy in the discussions about developing better protective gear for officers.

Read More →
Promotional graphic for Patrolfinder featuring a police chief’s headshot inside a circular frame alongside a police SUV in the background. The headline reads: “Built for Patrol: How One Police Chief Fixed Communication, Boosted Visibility, and Changed the Culture.”
SponsoredMarch 17, 2026

Built for Patrol: How One Police Chief Fixed Communication, Boosted Visibility, and Changed the Culture

Patrol work hasn’t changed—but the expectations on officers have. See how one police chief helped officers get the right information at the right time, improve patrol visibility, and strengthen trust without adding complexity or surveillance. This real-world story shows how patrol-driven technology can make the job safer, smarter, and more effective—starting on day one.

Read More →
Man in a blue blazer lifting his shirt to reveal a concealed handgun in a waistband holster while standing outdoors.
SponsoredMarch 2, 2026

Safariland Solis Rethinks Concealable Duty

What if Level I retention didn’t require a full duty rig? Safariland’s Solis delivers trusted ALS security in a streamlined OWB platform built for administrative and plainclothes professionals who need protection without the bulk.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Woman kneeling with a Bloodhound in front of a white pickup truck.
PatrolMarch 1, 2026

K-9s Play a Critical Role in Finding Missing Persons

Real-world scenarios show that a tracking canine can detect and follow a human track several hours after it was made.

Read More →
Black background with image of police car light bar, logo for POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips, and headline What are the latest law enforcement boots from Garmont Tactical?
Patrolby Wayne ParhamFebruary 25, 2026

Garmont Tactical’s LE Boot Lineup

In this video, we get a look at the latest law enforcement boots from Garmont Tactical, both for men and women. Kyle Ferdyn, sales manager, showcases four of the latest boots.

Read More →
Person in protective CMRN suit and breathing gear.
PatrolFebruary 18, 2026

Avon Protection Launches EXOSKIN-S2 High-Performance CBRN Protective Suit

With the commercial availability of Avon Protection’s EXOSKIN-S2, users now have increased options for their protective suit requirements across the spectrum of CBRN threat environments.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Sky background with logos for Versatern and Aloft
PatrolFebruary 18, 2026

Versaterm Acquires Aloft to Unlock a New Era of Drones for Public Safety

Versaterm has acquired Aloft, an FAA-approved Unmanned Service Supplier (USS) that specializes in real-time airspace intelligence and flight authorizations.

Read More →