SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. – UPDATE
Four people were charged Wednesday in connection with a shooting that killed three people and wounded three others in Virginia, authorities said.
Three suspects have been arrested on charges of malicious wounding and felony firearm use. Jeremiah Upson, 18, and a 16-year-old and 17-year-old were arrested early Wednesday morning, the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office said.
Police said another 16-year-old, who was in the hospital with a gunshot wound, was charged and would be arrested upon his release. Authorities did not identify the three juvenile suspects.
Police said the shooting stemmed from an illegal gun sale and robbery. Gunfire was reported Tuesday evening at a town house complex just outside Fredericksburg, about 65 miles (105 kilometers) southwest of Washington, said Maj. Elizabeth Scott, spokesperson for the sheriff’s office.
When officials arrived, they found all of the victims outside, Scott said. Police said three men were declared dead: Chase Feaster, 18; Alonzo Goffney, 18; and a 20-year-old man, whom police did not yet identify.
The three injured were taken to hospitals with gunshot wounds, police said. Their conditions and other information about them were not immediately available. The shootings may have been committed by more than one person, Scott said.
An attorney for Upson was not listed in court records, according to the Spotsylvania County Juvenile Domestic Relations Court. The Fredericksburg Public Defender’s Office, which serves Spotsylvania County, did not respond to a request for comment on whether they were representing Upson. He was not listed in public records.
Authorities also asked for any witnesses to send any video that could help the investigation.
Officials urged people to avoid the scene while authorities investigated. Area schools delayed openings by two hours on Wednesday morning.
In a statement on its website, Fredericksburg City Public Schools said the delay “will allow us the necessary time to prepare our buildings and staff to welcome students with the care and support they may need during this difficult time.”
Spotsylvania County Public Schools also announced a two-hour delay Wednesday, saying it would allow staff to have support in place to help students and staff who may have been impacted. The support included additional deputies and presence from the sheriff’s office at each of the high schools, the school system said on its website.
UPDATE
All suspects were in custody early Wednesday after a shooting that killed three people and wounded three others in Virginia, authorities said.
The Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office announced in a social media post only that all suspects were in custody and there was no threat to public safety. It said additional details would be released later.
On Tuesday evening, 911 calls came in about a shooting at a town house complex in Spotsylvania County, just outside Fredericksburg and about 65 miles (105 kilometers) southwest of Washington, said Maj. Elizabeth Scott, spokesperson for the sheriff’s office.
Officials had urged people to avoid the area and those near the scene to stay indoors while authorities investigate, she said. Area schools delayed openings by two hours Wednesday morning.
The shooting may have been committed by more than one person, according to Scott. There was publicly released information about a possible motive.
The three injured people were taken to hospitals with gunshot wounds. Their conditions and other information about them was not immediately available.
All of the victims were found outside, according to Scott.
Authorities also asked for any witnesses to send any video that could help the investigation.
Fredericksburg City Public Schools announced on its website that schools would start two hours late Wednesday “in light of the profound impact this incident has had on members of our school community.”
“This delay will allow us the necessary time to prepare our buildings and staff to welcome students with the care and support they may need during this difficult time,” the statement said.
Spotsylvania County Public Schools also announced a two-hour delay Wednesday, saying it would allow staff to have support in place to help students and staff who may have been impacted. The support included additional deputies and presence from the sheriff’s office at each of the high schools, the school system said on its website.
ORIGINAL STORY
Three people are dead and three are injured after a shooting in Spotsylvania, Virginia, Tuesday evening, according to the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office.
Officials say they responded to the area Olde Greenwhich Circle in Spotsylvania at approximately 5:30 p.m. Tuesday for reports of a shooting.
Upon arrival, deputies found multiple people shot. At this time, the Sheriff’s Office has confirmed three people are dead and three victims have been transported to local hospitals.
Investigators reported shattered windows and a red Mercedes Benz with several bullet holes.
A neighbor spoke to NBC Washington on the condition of anonymity, detailing what her family witnessed just feet away from her home.
“My son was actually outside walking the dog, and he said he heard what he thought was a car backfiring but it was gunfire. And he actually saw one of the suspects running in the street and he got the dog in the house and he told everybody to go to the basement to get out of, you know, trajectory of the bullets because he didn’t know where the gunfire was going…” she said. “The sound that they heard they thought a car was backfiring, but then they heard the rapid gunfire and that’s when they realized they were shooting an automatic rifle or some type of gun.”
NBC Washington saw the medical examiner arrive at the scene and said the sheriff’s office won’t release the names of those victims until all of their families have been notified.
“We have nearly all of our detectives out right now looking for the suspects, and we will stay looking for these suspects,” said Major Elizabeth Scott with the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office. “We have multiple other agencies assisting with us, the city of Fredericksburg, the police department is also assisting as well as Virginia StatePolice. We will stay out here until the suspects are caught.”
Fredericksburg City Public Schools also announced that schools will open two hours late on Wednesday in the wake of the shooting.
“This delay will allow us the necessary time to prepare our buildings and staff to welcome students with the care and support they may need during this difficult time,” the school district said.
Spotsylvania County Public Schools will have a two-hour delay as well.
Officials also said no suspect or suspects have been apprehended as of 7:43 p.m. Tuesday evening.
This is a developing story and 10 News will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.