Laura Markowski and Angela Hatcher
Published: March 23, 2008

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office has charged Justin Mathew Shrader, age 20 of Ridgeway, with second degree murder for the shooting death of 22 year old Nicholas Wayne Hairston of Martinsville.  Shrader also faces charges for using a firearm in a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted fellon.  Shrader is being held in the Henry County Jail with no bond.

The second suspect, a 17 year old male is being held at the W.W. Moore Juvenile Detention Center in Danville on an unrelated outstanding dentention order.

Investigators say Hairston was shot in the upper chest just after noon Saturday outside the Food Lion at the corner of Commonwealth Blvd. and Virginia Ave. in Martinsville.  Hairston later died at the hospital.

Not long after the shooting, both Shrader and the 17 year old were located in a wooded area behind a nearby hotel. Deputies say the pair could have run through the Roses store, which is next to the Food Lion to escape.  Investigators recovered two handguns.  One was found near the victim and the second was found in the area where the suspects were caught.

The Food Lion was evacuated, but no one else was hurt.

Investigators say a dispute happened between the victim and two suspects prior to the shooting.  They are also still investigating the suspects’ relationship to the victim.

Martinsville Police and Virginia State Police are helping the Henry County Sheriff’s Department in the investigation.