Crime
James Lehnerd in Custody After Opening Fire on Pittsylvania County Deputies Serving Warrant
PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. — Three Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s deputies were injured Wednesday night while attempting to serve multiple warrants and a protective order in Gretna, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The incident occurred on Blue Jay Lane when deputies approached the residence to execute the warrants.
Authorities say the deputies were met with gunfire upon arrival.
While initial reports suggested the deputies had been shot, the Sheriff’s Office later clarified that the injuries were caused by shrapnel rather than direct gunfire.
One deputy was transported to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries and has since been released.
The suspect, identified as James Andru Lehnerd, was taken into custody without further incident.
According to the Pittsylvania County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, charges are pending against Lehnerd.
Due to the dangerous circumstances and difficulty in safely extracting the injured deputies from the residence, a SWAT team was deployed to the scene.
Once the situation was under control, officials from the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, and the Virginia State Police held a press briefing. Virginia State Police will lead the investigation into the shooting.
Authorities described a “very heavy scene” at the intersection of Pittsville Road and Homestead Road, with a large presence of emergency and law enforcement personnel.
Agencies responding included the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, Campbell County Sheriff’s Office, Amherst County Sheriff’s Office, Danville Police Department, Virginia State Police, Gretna Fire and Rescue, Hurt Fire Department, U.S. Marshals, and a Centra medical helicopter.
Additional support agencies continued to arrive throughout the evening.
Crime
Angela Johnson and Her Son DeAngelo Johnson Killed After Shooting Inside Home in Chicago, Mother’s Boyfriend in Custody
CHICAGO — A 47-year-old mother and her 27-year-old son were fatally shot inside a residence in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on the West Side late Thursday night, September 24, 2026, according to Chicago police.
The victims were identified as Angela Johnson, 47, and DeAngelo Johnson, 27. Police said a suspect, identified as Angela Johnson’s boyfriend, was taken into custody following the shooting.
The deadly shooting happened in the 800 block of North Parkside Avenue at approximately 10:43 p.m. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots coming from the basement of the residence and called 911.
When Chicago police officers arrived, they found the two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
Angela Johnson was found in the basement with a gunshot wound to her chest. Police-radio traffic indicated she had been shot on the right side of her chest.
DeAngelo Johnson was found on the first floor with multiple gunshot wounds. Radio traffic indicated that he had suffered two gunshot wounds to his back.
Both victims were initially unresponsive and in critical condition. Emergency personnel performed CPR on DeAngelo Johnson before both victims were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
According to police-radio traffic, one victim was pronounced dead at approximately 11:18 p.m., while the male victim was pronounced dead around 11:21 p.m.
Investigators found extensive evidence inside the residence, including approximately 23 shell casings in a basement bedroom. Additional shell casings were reportedly recovered in other areas of the basement, including the stairway, main room and bedroom.
Officers initially recovered a firearm and shell casings from the basement bedroom. Police later located a second firearm inside the home, bringing the total number of recovered firearms to two.
Authorities have not publicly stated who owned the firearms or confirmed which weapon, if either, was used in the fatal shooting.
Police also reported that DeAngelo Johnson was wearing an empty holster when officers found him on the first floor. That discovery prompted an officer-safety alert as officers searched the residence for the missing firearm.
Chicago police said the shooting appeared to be domestic-related and identified the alleged offender as the mother’s boyfriend.
Radio traffic indicated that a person had been detained by approximately 11:26 p.m. The official police report later confirmed that the known offender was taken into custody.
Two witnesses were reportedly available to identify the alleged offender, and officers conducted a show-up identification procedure near the scene.
Police have not released additional information about potential charges against the suspect.
The investigation into the Chicago Austin neighborhood double shooting remains ongoing. Detectives are continuing to examine the circumstances that led to the shooting, the relationship between the people involved and the role of the two recovered firearms.
The deaths of Angela Johnson and DeAngelo Johnson are being investigated as a double homicide.