Spotsylvania County deputy-involved shooting leaves juvenile suspect dead

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. - A juvenile male reportedly armed with a gun was shot and killed by deputies in Spotsylvania County on Thursday.

According to the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Department, a juvenile male, who was reported as a missing runaway from New Jersey on Saturday, was wanted for firing shots at the same home on multiple occasions and also stealing two vehicles.

Deputies said the minor was tracked to the townhomes of the Salem Fields Community in Fredericksburg. When authorities made contact with the suspect they said he was armed with a gun.

According to deputy accounts, the juvenile complied with initial commands to put the gun down, but as deputies began to approach, he grabbed the gun and motioned toward authorities.

The sheriff's office said there was an exchange of gunfire between the juvenile and law enforcement officials. The minor was struck several times and was rushed to the hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. No deputies were injured during the exchange of gunfire.

Deputies said their investigation began on Sunday at about 11:15 p.m. when they responded to a home in the 10800 block of Cedar Post Lane after a drive-by shooting was reported. Witnesses told authorities that a black Volkswagen with dark tinted windows drove by and fired several rounds at the home. No one was injured during the shooting.

The sheriff’s department said it responded to the same home on Monday at about 11:30 p.m. for a second drive-by shooting report. There were no injuries reported during the second shooting. While at the scene, deputies said they recovered .45 caliber shell casings on the ground. Officials said it was learned a .45 caliber handgun was stolen from the home during a previous break-in reported earlier in the year.

Authorities said they were able to track the Volkswagen back to a missing juvenile runaway from New Jersey who was wanted for stealing the vehicle. The sheriff’s department stated it was able to locate the Volkswagen and discovered a 2006 white BMW was stolen nearby.

The juvenile was eventually tracked to the Salem Fields Community where deputies said they located the stolen BMW in the parking lot. Authorities were then able to locate the suspect, which is when the exchange of gunfire occurred, according to officials.

The deputy involved in the shooting, a 16-year veteran with the sheriff’s department, has been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.