
VSP: Motorists exchange gunfire along I-64 in Waynesboro
Police sent out a press release seeking the public's assistance concerning the July 9 incident.
Just minutes after 5 p.m. on I-64 eastbound, a black Genesis sedan cut off a white truck, possibly a Toyota with large tires, near Exit 96 in Waynesboro. The two vehicles stopped in the travel lane, and the driver of the truck pulled a gun and fired at the other vehicle, police said. The driver of the Genesis returned gunfire. The truck drove away from the scene onto Exit 96.
The driver of the truck in question was described as a man in his early to mid-30s, and police said he had light brown or reddish hair with a distinct jaw line.
The driver of the sedan, who was not injured, remained on the scene and is cooperating with the investigation, police said. The Waynesboro Commonwealth's Attorney's Office is being consulted.
Anyone with information is asked to call Virginia State Police Division 3 Dispatch at (540) 444-7778 or email Virginia State Police at questions@vsp.virginia.gov.
More: After being sexually assaulted, girl used ruse to escape Churchville man's home
More: Craigsville man facing multiple charges following police chase in Augusta County
Brad Zinn is the cops, courts and breaking news reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip? Or something that needs investigating? You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at bzinn@newsleader.com. You can also follow him on X (formerly Twitter).
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: VSP: Motorists exchange gunfire along I-64 in Waynesboro

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Virginia State Police identify two victims killed in crash on I-64 in Augusta County
Virginia State Police have identified two people who were killed on Interstate 64 after a truck went off the roadway the morning of July 22 in Augusta County. A 2026 Freightliner TMA crash truck, used to protect workers and motorists in highway work zones, was eastbound on I-64. At approximately 6:19 a.m. at mile marker 89, police said the driver overcorrected, causing the truck to veer off the right side of the interstate. The truck went through a guardrail and down an embankment, striking a tree and overturning on its side. Both the driver and passenger in the truck died at the scene. The driver was identified as Georgeanna L. Hardesty, 51, of Iron Gate. The passenger was Sabrina L. Harris, 50, of Covington. Both were wearing seatbelts, police said. The crash remains under investigation. More: Art Hive calls for help to add accessibility ramp, inclusive mural More: Two Waynesboro police officers indicted amid allegations they assaulted fellow cop More: The Box to offer nightlife and events space in Staunton Brad Zinn is the cops, courts and breaking news reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip? Or something that needs investigating? You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at bzinn@ You can also follow him on X (formerly Twitter). This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Victims in I-64 crash in Augusta County identified by state police Solve the daily Crossword


American Press
2 days ago
- American Press
Jim Beam column:What did those lawmen do?
The arrest of four Louisiana lawmen, the wife of one of them and a private citizen has left some citizens wondering exactly what they did to be indicted by the federal government. The six were allegedly breaking laws that helped immigrants get what are called U visas. The visas help them stay in the country while their asylum cases play out. The indicted lawmen are former Forest Hill Police Chief Glynn Dixon, Oakdale Police Chief Chad Doyle, Oakdale City Marshal Michael Slaney and former Glenmora Police Chief Tebo Onishea. All four pleaded not guilty last week. Alison Doyle, the Oakdale police chief's wife, was accused of rigging a bidding process in the mayor's office where she worked. Chandrakant 'Lala' Patel is a businessman accused of orchestrating the alleged visa fraud scheme. The Advocate in its report on the arrest story said Patel was a mystery to many locals. He was mainly known for running a Subway shop and two convenience stores. Allen Parish Sheriff Douglas Hebert said Patel has no local criminal record. Patel pleaded not guilty Wednesday to all charges filed against him. The Advocate's newly obtained Glenmora police reports provide the first look at what federal prosecutors allege was the bribes-for-visas scheme. The 62-count indictment includes allegations of faked police reports, fraudulent visas for foreign nationals and tens of thousands of dollars in alleged bribes. The newspaper said it portrays Rapides and Allen parishes as an epicenter of immigration fraud on a large scale. Prosecutors said each of the four lawmen got stacks of cash from Patel. Then, hundreds of people received visas based on phony police reports that portrayed them as crime victims or witnesses who were helping authorities. The Advocate said federal authorities haven't released much information about who exactly received the forged visas. Prosecutors allege that Patel and the men used the money to buy two pickup trucks, two campsites on Bundick Lake, an RV, a 2025 Land Rover, a Toyota sport van and other vehicles. Doyle's wife is accused of rigging the bidding process so Patel could acquire two city-owned properties. He paid $56,200 for two properties. Law enforcement officials said the scheme involved 'several central Louisiana parishes,' suggesting a wider reach, and that it could date back to as early as 2015. It's unclear if other public officials are involved. State Attorney General Liz Murrill said she expects her office will lodge additional state charges against the accused. The response of local citizens to the arrests was interesting. Ann Odom, 73, a lifelong Oakdale resident, said, 'Money is the root of all evil.' Oakdale has had other corruption scandals and a gift shop owner said, 'It's everywhere you go. But it's bad here. Really, really bad.' A former fellow Oakdale police officer and childhood friend of Doyle's, who wouldn't give his name, said, 'I honestly thought we wouldn't have stuff like that once (he) became chief.' Forest Hill Mayor Elizabeth Jeter said she was 'deeply saddened' over the indictment of Dixon. 'Forest Hill is a strong, close-know community and we understand how difficult this news is for our residents.' Local law enforcement in Rapides Parish said they've never had any real problems with any noncitizens, either way. District Attorney Phillip Terrell, 'Off the top of my head, I'm not aware of any felony cases that we have out of Forest Hill or Glenmora. There's not much activity there, other than, apparently, the fraudulent activity.' The Advocate in an editorial about the lawmen being arrested reminded its readers that an indictment is only an innocent until proven guilty. It said the lawmen, like those swept up in all the immigration raids that have taken place this year, deserve humane treatment and due process. '… The elderly man on his way to work in Lafayette, the nursing mother in Baton Rouge who showed up for a scheduled immigration appointment or the woman gardening in her New Orleans yard are not the problem with the nation's immigration system,' the editorial said. Targeting those folks is cruel, but that isn't the worst part. How about those arrested immigrants who are being sent to countries they have never been to before? They aren't getting the humane treatment and due process that the six who were arrested for fraud will be getting. Jim Beam, the retired editor of the American Press, has covered people and politics for more than six decades. Contact him at 337-515-8871 or
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Two Waynesboro police officers indicted amid allegations they assaulted fellow cop
Two Waynesboro police officers have been indicted on felony charges by a special grand jury following an April incident that reportedly took place while both were on duty, according to a joint media release by the Waynesboro Police Department and the Waynesboro Commonwealth's Attorney's Office. Cpl. Jacob W. Moore, 30, and Officer Joseph M. Meadows, 29, both face charges of assault and battery of a police officer and disarming a law enforcement officer of a firearm. Details were limited, but Waynesboro Commonwealth's Attorney David Ledbetter said Moore and Meadows are accused of assaulting another Waynesboro police officer. All were on-duty at the time, he said. The incident took place April 6 and was reported weeks later on April 25. Around that same timeframe, The News Leader reached out to Chief David Shaw of the Waynesboro Police Department, who said he could not discuss personnel matters. "We are always committed to handling such issues quickly, with the appropriate confidentiality and due process," Shaw said in an email. "Should a matter warrant public disclosure, we will communicate through our usual channels, as we are always dedicated and focused on upholding the integrity and professionalism expected of our profession." A press release said the incident took place between several officers on April 6 at an undisclosed location on the city's south end. "As reported, it potentially violated the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. To ensure that a transparent and impartial investigation was completed, the Waynesboro Police Department requested an external investigation by the Virginia State Police and the Waynesboro Commonwealth's Attorney's Office. The accused officers were placed on administrative leave and had their police powers suspended pending the outcome of the investigation," the release said. Moore has been with the department for seven years. Meadows has been employed there for less than two years. Both were arrested on July 21 and released on a personal recognizance bond, the release said. Ledbetter said he will handle the prosecution. "I'm elected to prosecute the felony cases in Waynesboro, the hard ones and not simply just the popular ones," he said. "I do not intend to recuse myself at this time." More: VSP: Two dead in crash on I-64 near Fishersville More: '500 Fireflies' to get free community screening at Staunton's Visulite Cinema This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Two Waynesboro police officers indicted by special grand jury