On the evening of Oct. 7, deputies responded to a disturbance and gunfire reported around 6:35 p.m. in a commercial parking lot on the 16100 block of Rogers Road in Culpeper County. The incident stemmed from an illegal gun sale that was interrupted by a third individual attempting to rob the seller.
Victims receive medical care
First responders found a man with a gunshot wound to the leg and applied a tourniquet before emergency crews air‑lifted him to a trauma center. A second man, also shot, drove himself to UVA Culpeper Medical Center before being flown to a trauma center. Both injuries were reported as non‑life‑threatening. A third person left the scene unharmed.
Investigation details
County investigators determined that two of the men had met in the parking lot to conduct a firearm sale when the third individual attempted to rob the seller. Shots were exchanged, and the two sellers subsequently assaulted the would‑be robber. Deputies recovered two firearms, including a handgun with a 3D‑printed lower receiver, commonly referred to as a “ghost gun.”
Culpeper County Sheriff Timothy W. Chilton emphasized the danger the gunfire posed to nearby residents, noting that a church next door was holding a Bible study and children’s gym classes at the time. “Gunfire in a business parking lot over an illegal gun sale and a set‑up robbery put a lot of people at risk,” Chilton said. “This kind of violence has no place in Culpeper County.”
Charges and ongoing inquiry
Three individuals have been charged with felony offenses, though formal arrests are pending because the suspects remain hospitalized. Captain Jason Deal, commander of the Criminal Investigations Division, confirmed that the parties involved knew each other prior to the shooting. “This was not a random act. The people involved knew each other and met for a reason,” Deal explained.
The investigation remains active, and authorities say additional charges may be filed as more information becomes available. Anyone with further details is urged to contact Detective Russell Mullins at the Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office (540‑727‑7520) or via email at [email protected].
Original reporting: Arlington County | FOX 5 DC — read the source article.
