Crime
All Suspects in Custody Following Mass Shooting in Spotsylvania County
At least three individuals were confirmed dead, with one victim found inside a vehicle and another visibly deceased on the property.
SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, VA — Authorities have confirmed that all suspects connected to Tuesday’s fatal shooting in the Olde Greenwich neighborhood, near Fredericksburg, are now in custody, and there is no ongoing threat to public safety.
Four Charged in Connection to Spotsylvania County Mass Shooting, Victims Identified
A formal press release from the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office is expected to provide additional information.
The violent incident occurred shortly before 6:00 p.m. on April 8, when a call was received reporting an active shooter in the 400 block of Olde Greenwich Drive, just off Lafayette Boulevard.
Law enforcement and emergency radio traffic at the time indicated multiple victims, including at least two children, and that the area had not yet been secured by responding officers.
Upon arrival, deputies and EMS crews encountered a chaotic and devastating scene.
At least three individuals were confirmed dead, with one victim found inside a vehicle and another visibly deceased on the property.
Paramedics were seen administering aid to additional victims at the scene. In total, three more individuals were transported to a hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds.
The conditions and ages of those injured have not yet been disclosed.
According to Major Liz Scott of the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, the incident remains an active and fluid investigation, though the immediate danger has passed with the apprehension of all involved suspects.
Eyewitness reports indicate the shooting stemmed from a confrontation between two groups of individuals.
Gunfire reportedly erupted between the parties before a resident from the neighborhood stepped outside and confronted one of the individuals involved.
The exact sequence of events is still under investigation.
In one alarming account shared on the Ring neighborhood app, a local resident described a suspect fleeing the scene and approaching a nearby home just minutes after the shooting.
According to the post, the injured suspect—believed to be one of the shooters—told a resident’s fiancé he had been shot, while a child and a dog were visibly present at the doorway.
The fiancé reportedly ordered the suspect to leave the property, an incident believed to have occurred between 5:50 and 6:10 p.m. This highlights the proximity and potential danger posed to area families during the unfolding violence.
A heavy police and emergency responder presence continues in the area as investigators work to piece together the full circumstances of the shooting.
Residents were earlier ordered to shelter in place, though that advisory is expected to be lifted now that all suspects have been located and detained.
Law enforcement urges residents who may have witnessed any part of the incident, or who have doorbell footage, surveillance video, or relevant information, to contact the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office immediately.
Further details, including identities of the deceased and suspects, are expected to be released once families are notified and investigations progress.
STATE COLLEGE, PA — A 20-year-old Pennsylvania man remains in custody after being accused of plotting a mass shooting at State College High School, scheduled to coincide with the anniversary of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre.
According to a criminal complaint filed by State College Police, Braeden Phillips allegedly planned to carry out the attack on April 21 — one day after the 26th anniversary of the Columbine shooting, in which two students killed 13 people and wounded more than 20 others before taking their own lives.
Phillips is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and unlawful possession of a firearm. He is being held without bond at the Centre County Correctional Facility, where court documents state he is considered an “extreme danger to the community.”
No attorney was listed in court records to represent him at this time.
Authorities allege that Phillips had created a detailed plan for the attack, which was to begin at approximately 8:40 a.m., a time when school hallways are heavily trafficked by students and staff.
The complaint states that Phillips intended to carry out the shooting near the school’s main staircase and had also planned to place explosives in school bathrooms.
Police say Phillips compiled a “hit list” and discussed the plot with several individuals. One juvenile acquaintance allegedly told investigators he had been recruited to participate in the attack.
The investigation was initiated after staff at a Centre County youth center reported disturbing information shared by another resident.
Police then conducted interviews with Phillips’ friends and acquaintances, several of whom stated he had described the planned shooting in detail and had shown them a firearm.
When questioned about Phillips’ motives, one friend reportedly told officers that Phillips expressed resentment toward the school, saying it had “failed him” and “did not serve his educational needs.”
Phillips allegedly selected April 21 for the attack because April 20 — the actual date of the Columbine massacre — falls on a Sunday this year, when school would not be in session.
State College Police commended the actions of the youth center staff and emphasized the importance of community vigilance.
“This investigation underscores the critical role that the public plays in helping law enforcement prevent violence,” the department said in a statement. “We are grateful for the citizen who spoke up. This is a powerful reminder that if you see something, say something.”
Phillips is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday. Authorities continue to investigate whether any other individuals were involved in the alleged plot.