MARTINSVILLE, Va. – As of Saturday afternoon, Martinsville police were trying to figure out what the argument 24-year-old Terrell Martin and 34-year-old Tyrone Herndon were involved in early Saturday morning was about.
Martinsville Police Department Capt. Chad Rhodes said Martin, Herndon and several other people were arguing shortly after midnight at the Valero gas station on Brookdale Street.
"We got the call at 12:17 a.m. of the fight in progress. Officers were in route and they arrived, I believe, less than two-minutes after the call was dispatched," Rhodes said.
When they arrived, they found Herndon shot.
He died a short time later at the hospital in Martinsville.
"We've followed up with all the local hospitals. From what we can gather at this point, Mr. Herndon was the only person injured," Rhodes said.
Rhodes said Martin and Herndon knew each other, but how they knew each other was unclear as of Saturday afternoon.
Herndon is believed to have been the intended target.
Martin is charged with first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, reckless handling of a firearm, and shooting a gun within city limits.
"We know that there were people at the scene," Rhodes emphasized. "We're asking that those people come forward with information so we can get all sides of the story."
Employees at the gas station declined to comment Saturday.
Martin is described as 6’0”, 140 pounds and should be considered armed and dangerous.
The incident remains under investigation.
If anyone has information, they are asked to call Sgt. Harley Durham at 276-403-5330 or Lt. Sandy Hines at 276-403-5328. Calls can also be made to Crime Stoppers at 276-63-CRIME.
Calls are anonymous. A $2,500 reward is being offered to anyone with information leading to an arrest.