A 34-year-old man from Stuart had to be airlifted to the hospital after getting shot while allegedly busting his way into an elderly man’s home.
Patrick County Sheriff Dan Smith reported that James Hazelwood, a 78-year-old who lives on Big A School Road in Stuart, called 911 just after 8:30 a.m. on January 23 to report a man with an iron pipe was outside beating his vehicle.
That man, identified as Griffith Coy Goodyear, of Salem Highway also in Stuart, then proceeded to use the pipe to beat the residence and busted out several windows, Smith said Hazelwood reported. Goodyear then allegedly began beating the front door of the home until he broke it open.
Sheriff Smith said Hazelwood fired once and shot Goodyear with a .38 caliber handgun. Goodyear reportedly retreated, got in his vehicle, and began backing down the driveway. Sgt. Lewis Carroll, Investigator Faith Hubbard, and Investigator Brian Hubbard had arrived and encountered Goodyear as he was attempted to get onto Big A School Road.
Finding that Goodyear was shot, the officers began to render aid, and ultimately, he was airlifted to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, the sheriff stated.
Smith said Goodyear and Hazelwood were previously acquaintances but Hazelwood had an active restraining order against Goodyear that doesn’t expire until April 2026. Hazelwood was served with the restraining order last April, the sheriff confirmed.
As of yesterday evening, Smith said he didn’t have information about Hazelwood’s condition. No charges were announced but the sheriff said investigators Hubbard and Haynes have an active investigation underway the Patrick County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
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