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Tag: Crime

Jury acquits one of two brothers charged for murdering Westmoreland, VA teacher
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Jury acquits one of two brothers charged for murdering Westmoreland, VA teacher

One of the two brothers accused of murdering a teacher in Westmoreland County, VA was acquitted Dec 5. Demetri Raymond Gardiner, 30, of Leonardtown, MD faced charges of 2nd degree murder, arson of an occupied dwelling, and 3 counts of animal cruelty causing death. Those charges stemmed from the murder of Taylor Wood, his brother’s 29-year-old girlfriend, and the burning of her house with her body and three dogs inside. Need to Catch Up? See… 2 men held in MD accused of murdering Westmoreland, VA school teacher Brothers returned to Virginia to face murder charges in Westmoreland According to testimony from forensic expert Dr. Jennifer Bowers, of the VA Medical Examiner’s Office, Wood’s death was caused by stab wounds to her neck area. Bowers testified that her finding...
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VA Beach police link robbery suspect to Chesapeake shooting
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Crime

VA Beach police link robbery suspect to Chesapeake shooting

Virginia Beach Police Department linked a robbery suspect to a shooting in Chesapeake, and 21-year-old Timothy Eugene Lane Jr. is now facing charges in both cities. VBPD officers responded to a home invasion robbery call in the 700 block of Brook Meadow Ct. on Oct. 15. The investigation led to Lane being identified as the suspect, and when he was arrested police recovered a gun, the department stated. That gun was submitted to the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) and was linked to a shooting in Chesapeake that occurred the day before the alleged home invasion robbery, revealed VBPD. The evidence was shared with Chesapeake PD, which then filed charges against Lane too. For the Virginia Beach incident, Lane is charged with daytime armed burglary, armed...
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Police claim to have recording of Ridgeway woman discussing murder-for-hire plot
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Police claim to have recording of Ridgeway woman discussing murder-for-hire plot

A 44-year-old Ridgeway woman is being held at Henry County Adult Detention Center with no bond after being arrested for a murder-for-hire plot. A confidential informant, who was working with law enforcement, met with Gennevieve McGhee at her residence on Chestnut Knob Rd. on Nov. 26., Henry County Sheriff’s Office reported. That informant used “a recording device” during the encounter, and McGhee allegedly outlined “detailed plans” for a robbery and murder, including the payment arrangements and detailed instructions of how she wanted it carried out, HCSO said. The recording device captured video and audio, and "McGhee was positively identified as the individual speaking with the source," HCSO also stated. McGhee was taken into custody by Henry County deputies on Nov. 27 and i...
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17-year-old charged for shooting teen in Herndon
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Crime

17-year-old charged for shooting teen in Herndon

A 17-year-old male of Alexandria has been arrested and charged for shooting another teenager Monday night in Herndon. Shortly after 9 p.m. on Monday, Herndon Police Department announced Cavalier Drive was closed between Saber Lane and Third Street as police were on the scene due to a shooting. Yesterday, HPD announced the victim of that shooting was a 16-year-old male who got into an altercation with the suspect. The suspect allegedly shot the younger boy multiple times in the upper body. But HPD said the victim was able to run to his house, and a family member rushed him to the hospital. As of yesterday, his condition was stable, according to HPD. Between the investigative leads and witness accounts, HPD said they were able to quickly identify the suspect who was taken into cu...
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4 juveniles hospitalized after police chase ends in fiery crash
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Crime

4 juveniles hospitalized after police chase ends in fiery crash

All four juveniles rescued from a burning car amid a police chase have been hospitalized, Virginia State Police announced. The chase was initiated Monday night on Van Dorn St. by Alexandria Police after an officer reportedly attempted to stop a Hyundai Elantra suspected to be stolen out of Prince George’s County, Maryland. According to VSP, the car refused to stop and state police joined the pursuit at Van Dorn and Vine streets at approximately 11:19 p.m. VSP said the pursuit went along Van Dorn Street, Telegraph Road, Route 236, and Route 1. While on Rt. 1, the Elantra driver allegedly rammed a trooper who crashed into a power pole and brought down the wires onto the roadway. The Elantra kept going, VSP said. And the driver allegedly ran a red light at the intersection of R...
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2 Fredericksburg suspects accused of murder for body found in Caroline
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2 Fredericksburg suspects accused of murder for body found in Caroline

Last week, Caroline County Sheriff’s Office announced there was an investigation underway after a Stafford man’s body was discovered by a gravel road in a rural part of the county on the morning of Nov. 18. The man had no known connections to the area where he was found. And preliminary investigations indicate that the victim was abducted, transported, and shot in the area of Caroline where he was found, the Sheriff’s Office said. Days later, CCSO arrested two Fredericksburg suspects, 30-year-old Laurel Ainsleigh Thrift and 47-year-old James William Jackson. Explaining how the pair were caught, CCSO said during the investigation, investigators went and interviewed people in Stafford, Spotsylvania, and Fredericksburg. That provided critical leads that led CCSO to request assistance...
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2 Fairfax men arrested for shooting 2 teens in Alexandria
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2 Fairfax men arrested for shooting 2 teens in Alexandria

Two Fairfax men have been arrested and charged for the previously reported shooting of two teens in a car at N. Fayette and Wythe Streets in late September. Alexandria Police Department said Fitzhugh Godwin, IV, 22, is charged with two counts of malicious wounding and one count of use of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Marcus Elliott, 28, is charged with two counts of malicious wounding, two counts of use of a firearm during the commission of a felony, one count of conspiracy to commit malicious wounding, one count of shooting into an occupied vehicle, and one count of violent felon in possession of a firearm. Neither of the juveniles died, according to APD. WATCH: Live Footage of Burglary at Burberry Follow the Watchful Eye on Twitter, Faceboo...
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Found: Virginia Beach man accused of hitting state trooper and fleeing the scene
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Found: Virginia Beach man accused of hitting state trooper and fleeing the scene

A 23-year-old Virginia Beach man who allegedly hit a state trooper amid a getaway has been found and is in Virginia Beach City Jail. According to Virginia State Police, at approximately 5:16 this morning, troopers attempted to make a reckless driving stop on a blue Dodge Charger that was traveling 125 mph in a 55 mph zone on I-264 East near Laskin Road. The car didn’t stop, VSP claims, and a police chase ensued. The Charger got off the highway on the Birdneck Road exit ramp. When the car made a right on Americus Way, troopers were able to block it in because it’s a dead end road, VSP stated. The driver, who VSP alleges is Jayden Markel Wallace, accelerated towards the side of a trooper’s vehicle but was “unsuccessful,” VSP Sgt. Michelle Anaya reported. At that point, a trooper ...
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Stafford man accused of serial armed robbery at 7-Eleven stores facing charges in 3 localities
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Stafford man accused of serial armed robbery at 7-Eleven stores facing charges in 3 localities

A man described by Stafford Sheriff Office as a “serial armed robber” was caught, arrested, and hit with charges from three jurisdictions. Suspect in Spotsylvania On November 12th, at approximately 11:30p.m., a call came in to Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office reporting a robbery at the 7-Eleven in the 10350 block of Patriot Highway. A store employee reported a black male came in, displayed a handgun, and demanded money, Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office stated. The employee provided the money, and the suspect fled. Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office revealed that while deputies were on the scene investigating that robbery, another 911 call came in at 12:30 a.m. from a 7-Eleven at 5900 Harrison Road. An employee in that store also reported getting robbed by a black man with a handgun. Again, t...
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One of two hit-and-run drivers in fatal Fauquier crash arrested
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One of two hit-and-run drivers in fatal Fauquier crash arrested

An arrest has been made in the case of Garland J. Heddings, a 73-year-old pedestrian killed in Fauquier County after reportedly getting hit on Elk Run Rd. by southbound and northbound hit-and-run drivers. Virginia State Police, which had called on the public to assist in the investigation, announced Dennis D. Dunning, 54, of Catlett, is one of the suspected drivers. VSP said Dunning was located at his residence on Burwell Road in Fauquier and taken into custody on Wednesday, Nov. 13, without incident. Dunning is charged with felony hit-and-run, involuntary manslaughter, and operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock. He’s being held at Fauquier Adult Detention Center without bond. Dunning’s arraignment for this morning was continued, court records show. Currently, his ne...
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