Crime
Spotsylvania Resident Shot Suspect During Olde Greenwich Mass Shooting, No Charges Filed
Authorities have confirmed that a resident of the Olde Greenwich community in Spotsylvania County fired a weapon and struck one of the suspects involved in Tuesday’s deadly shooting that claimed three lives and injured several others.
According to a statement released Thursday by the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO), the armed resident will not face charges for his actions.
The incident unfolded around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8, when deputies responded to reports of gunfire in the area of Olde Greenwich Circle, just outside Fredericksburg.
Upon arrival, they discovered multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
Three individuals were pronounced dead, and at least three others were transported to local hospitals for treatment.
According to the sheriff’s office, the resident was inside his home when he heard what he described as “rapid gunfire” outside. Looking through a window, he observed “one individual with a long gun in the parking lot.”
The man immediately instructed a family member to call 911 before retrieving a firearm from inside the residence.
Once outside, the man fired a shot at the suspect, striking him. Shortly afterward, a neighbor informed the man that there were additional shooters in the vicinity.
The resident then retreated into his home and remained there until law enforcement arrived on scene.
Based on the preliminary investigation, the sheriff’s office determined that the man acted within his legal rights, and no charges will be pursued.
The SCSO identified the shooting as stemming from an illegal gun sale that escalated into a robbery.
Four individuals have been arrested and charged in connection with the violence, including two 16-year-olds, a 17-year-old, and 18-year-old Jeremiah Upson.
One of the 16-year-old suspects is being treated at a local hospital for a gunshot wound—believed to have been inflicted by the armed resident—and will be taken into custody upon his release.
The remaining three suspects are currently incarcerated without bond.
The victims who lost their lives in the shooting have been identified as 18-year-old Chase Feaster and 18-year-old Alonzo Goffney, both of Spotsylvania County.
The identity of the third victim, a 20-year-old male, is being withheld pending confirmation from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Authorities have praised the collaborative efforts of detectives, community members, and supporting agencies, including the Fredericksburg Police Department and the Virginia State Police.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.