Four teenagers are in custody following a deadly mass shooting that killed three people and injured three others in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. The incident occurred Tuesday evening, April 8, at a townhouse complex in a suburban neighborhood approximately 60 miles south of Washington, D.C.
Deputies from the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office responded to multiple emergency calls around 5:30 p.m., reporting gunfire in the area of Olde Greenwich Drive and Lafayette Boulevard. When law enforcement arrived, they discovered multiple victims with gunshot wounds.
Three victims were pronounced dead at the scene. They have been identified as 18-year-old Chase Feaster and 18-year-old Alonzo Goffney, both from Spotsylvania County, along with a 20-year-old man whose name has not been released pending confirmation from the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Three additional people suffered gunshot wounds and were transported to local hospitals. Authorities have not provided details about their conditions.
Following an intensive investigation, law enforcement took four suspects into custody – two 16-year-olds, a 17-year-old, and 18-year-old Jeremiah Upson. All four have been charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and unlawful assembly, according to official statements.
One of the suspects also suffered a gunshot wound during the incident and was hospitalized. Officials indicated that this individual would be incarcerated upon release from medical care.
Preliminary investigation revealed the violence stemmed from “an illegal gun sale/robbery,” according to the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office.
Residents in the Olde Greenwich Circle neighborhood, a community of brick townhomes, described a frightening scene as the shooting unfolded. Several witnesses reported seeing individuals with what appeared to be long guns exchanging gunfire.
One witness told investigators they heard gunshots that sounded “like a machine gun” as the violence erupted in the typically quiet suburb.
Sheriff’s deputies initially established a perimeter around the area as they searched for multiple armed suspects. By Wednesday morning, authorities confirmed all suspects were in custody and there was no ongoing threat to public safety.
The Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office has requested that anyone with video footage of the incident or information related to the shooting come forward to assist with the investigation.
Sheriff Roger Harris expressed gratitude to the community for their support during what he described as a “stressful and heartbreaking” incident for the county.
In response to the shooting, both Fredericksburg City Public Schools and Spotsylvania County Public Schools implemented a two-hour delay on Wednesday, April 9. School officials stated the delay would allow time to prepare buildings and staff to provide support for students and staff members affected by the violence.
The shooting marks one of the deadliest incidents in Spotsylvania County in recent years. County officials have announced plans to hold a community meeting later this week to address public safety concerns and provide resources for residents affected by the violence.
Grief counselors will be available at area schools for the remainder of the week to support students and staff processing the tragedy, according to school district representatives.
The investigation remains active as detectives work to gather additional evidence and determine if further charges will be filed against the suspects.
