It was weird around town this morning. Normal traffic has subsided to holiday-like levels. I was a little concerned because I didn’t think it was a holiday.
Then I found out that Four Vehicles Had Been Shot on I-64 as part of a shooting spree early this morning. There aren’t many details about the shooting, but Interstate 64 was shut down for several hours this morning from exits 96 to 118. I-64 supposedly has a massive backup.
Was this the place where the shootings took place from (Exit 99 Overpass)? Photo courtesy of Tom Daly Photography.
The Daily Progress reports on the injuries:
Sgt. Dave Cooper said four vehicles were shot along an 11-mile stretch of Interstate 64. The first report of shootings came in at 12:10 a.m. Thursday. An Augusta Medical Center spokesperson said two drivers were treated and released. A Swoope man was treated at AMC for a shoulder injury after a bullet hit the windshield of his Mazda 3. A woman in the vehicle was not injured. A woman driving a van was also being treated for minor injuries in a separate shooting incident in the same area, police said.
I imagine this will bring national media attention to Charlottesville and I-64. Was anyone on 64 around this time or know anyone who was close by the shooting?
Update 9:15AM: “Charlottesville News” is the 7th Highest Searched Term on Google on March 27th. [ref]
Update 12:30PM: Shooter Locations
- The westbound offramp at the Ivy Exit (#114)
- The overpass at Route 690 (#106)
- The Virginia Department of Transportation building at Yancey Mills
Update 2:00PM: Full Press Release from Virginia State Police (after the jump)
VIRGINIA STATE POLICE INVESTIGATING SHOOTINGS ON AND
NEAR INTERSTATE 64 IN CHARLOTTESVILLE REGION
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – State and local police are actively following leads related to a series of overnight shootings along and near Interstate 64 in Albemarle County and a neighboring jurisdiction. At least six vehicles were struck during the overnight hours of Thursday, March 27, 2008. More than 50 leads have already been called in this morning and early afternoon.
Investigators encourage anyone with information to contact either the Virginia State Police at (434) 293-3223 or the Albemarle-Charlottesville CrimeStoppers Tip Line at (434) 977-4000.
At 12:10 a.m. Thursday, March 27, 2008, the Virginia State Police Appomattox Division Communications Center received a call about a vehicle being struck by gunfire from the Route 690 overpass as the vehicle was traveling westbound on Interstate 64 near the 106 mile marker. Virginia State Police immediately dispatched troopers to the caller’s location. Additional troopers and local police were then dispatched to other overpasses along the I-64 corridor.
During the next 20 minutes, additional calls came in concerning vehicles being struck by bullets along I-64. One incident was reported at the Exit 114 ramp leading to westbound I-64. At least three vehicles were shot in the westbound lanes of I-64 near the Route 690 overpass at the 106 mile marker. All four vehicles were occupied at the time of the shootings.
Two of the drivers traveling near the Route 690 overpass suffered minor injuries as a result of the shootings. The two individuals were treated at the Augusta Medical Center in Fishersville and released. One of the individuals was driving a minivan and the second individual was driving a sedan.
At 1:43 a.m. Thursday, Virginia State Police were notified of a Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) vehicle parked in the parking lot of the Yancey Mills VDOT maintenance facility. The dump truck, which had been shot several times, was unoccupied. The parking lot is located near I-64 at Exit 107 for Crozet.
State police are in the process of following on a recent report of a sixth vehicle having been possibly shot overnight.
Based on witness accounts, State Police suspect at least two individuals were involved in the shootings. No additional suspect or a vehicle description is available at this time.
State and local police are interviewing witnesses and victims, running down the various leads still coming in and analyzing evidence collected from the scenes and vehicles. State police are working with the ATF in the analysis of ballistic evidence also collected from the scenes and vehicles.
State police and Waynesboro Police are working together to determine if there is any link to the Interstate shootings and a reported shooting in the town of Waynesboro. (Contact the Waynesboro Police Department for additional information on their shooting investigation).
The investigation into these incidents involves Virginia State Police, Albemarle County Police, Charlottesville Police, Waynesboro Police, Staunton Police, University of Virginia Police, Augusta County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, ATF, US Marshal’s Service and the Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney.
“State and local police are taking the necessary steps to make the immediate area and I-64 corridor safer for motorists and local residents,” said Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “As investigators pursue the suspects involved in these incidents, motorists are advised to be vigilant and alert when traveling through the Albemarle County and Charlottesville area of I-64 and to report any suspicious activity to local or state police.”
Popularity: 30% [?]
Tagged as: 64, Charlottesville, Crime, Guns, injury, interstate, News, shooting, Slade Woodson, traffic, violence
FYI, Albemarle county schools initially went to a two hour delay, but due to parents concerned about safety in the western part of the county, have closed schools county-wide for the day.
This is what UVA issued to students/staff/etc.:
The Virginia State Police and Albemarle County Police Department responded to several shooting incidents that occurred in the area of Interstate 64 in the western portion of Albemarle County shortly after midnight on March 27, 2008. There were multiple incidents involving at least four different vehicles over an eleven mile stretch of Interstate 64. Two victims were treated for non-life threatening injuries and released from local hospitals. The suspect or suspects involved in this incident have not been identified at this time.
Multiple law enforcement agencies are involved in this investigation, crime scene security, following up on leads and continued security to the community. This includes air support and K-9 units. The Virginia State Police is the lead investigating agency for this incident.
People who do this kind of thing are so disgusting.
People who do this kind of thing are so disgusting
way to go out on a limb there, Thor
well, I’m pissed.
methinks he doth protest too much.
someone sniff Thor’s finger for cordite
someone sniff Thor’s finger
ew. no. You can’t make me.
/nyaah nyaah
where’s nannigans? She’ll sniff anything…
WTF?
Does anyone know if the shooting were all around the same spot, or different positions on that stretch of 64? I always find coming over the mountain a sketchy place at night.
This is what The Hook has so far…kudos to them for blogging at 5:30 in the morning
http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2008/03/27/i-64-slammed-shut-to-wboro/
Thor, I’m with you…it’s an obvious sentiment, but a true one.
There’s a news conference at 10:30. I know you can watch it at NBC 29.
Any update?
No, I can’t get the video to load.
Ekkkk! This is awful! I can’t believe that people are capable of this.
@ 15 - Yah Who ‘da thunk?
B’ yo, can you do something about the Wal-Mart truck in the picture. Maybe make it something a little more SWPL.
maybe the shooter got his rifle at Wal-Mart
Just heard someon’es shooting at houses in Greenwood now? Anybody near a TV?
SWPL?
Sophomorically Winsome Photoshop Lunacy?
So what’s this about Greenwood? My offspring are currently around there… possibly in a car.
As a guy whose condo was less than 1/2 mile from the first shots of the “DC sniper,” I don’t want to live through that sh!t again.
I haven’t been able to find anything about Greenwood. Hopefully that is just a rumor.
Working out in Crozet doesn’t seem so cool now. They just told us to lock all the doors.
According to NBC29, the following authorities are involved:
Albemarle County Police Department
Charlottesville Police Department
Augusta County Sheriff’s Office
University of Virginia Police Department
Staunton Police Department
Virginia State Police
U.S. Marshalls Service **
FBI
ATF
** Where’s Tommy Lee Jones when you need him? I’m guessing Staunton is not in charge here …
This has a botched drug raid written all over it.
@25 well this pretty much guarantees that somebody will get shot
This just showed up on the DP site:
“Reports of damage from gunshots have come in from around Greenwood, Crozet and the Yellow Mountain areas of Albemarle County”
Fuckkkkk!!!
Reading the article on the DP site, it sounds like that damage was all done last night, not currently.
the DP report is definitely misleading if those reports are from last night. that’s how rumors get started.
that’s how rumors get started
I heard Van Halen is the shooter.
nbc29 now has on their site that “Police believe multiple gunmen are involved”
oye
Phew. Oh, btw, the pictures were taken by one of our lovely cVillains…
I just confirmation that the shootings associated with the 64 shootings are presumed to be from last night’s (well, early this morning) shootings, they’re not new ones.
I can’t type. Blame it on the rain.
I heard Van Halen is the shooter.
you mean Led Zeppelin, right?
(thanks Layla)
I can’t believe that people are capable of this.
obviously not a history major…
Stormy - yeah, as a guy who was at the manassas/chantilly gas station 30 minutes before the dc sniper shot there, yeah.
/especially as someone who was driving with some very special cargo on 64 last night not too awfully long before this happened…
@ 36 you mean Led Zeppelin, right?
I really meant Guns & Roses.
/sex pistols?
We’ve hit the national media, kids… ABC News has an absurd graphic for the ordeal and everything. This was number 5 on my iGoogle top stories.
Link failed… let’s try this again ABC News
They forgot to mention how Charlottesville was recently the #1 city in America.
They did, baconfat, but I did not.
you say rumors, all i hear is this</a
(apparently, i have to work on the</a part).
Wow. Wowwww. I love the commenter who says, “this is Jesusland and gun activities are normal there”. Somebody please set up an account so you can go on there and rip him apart.
good one, b-yo.
@45 go on where?
/lost on the internet again
Lys’ ABC news link in #40
it’s pretty pointless to argue with someone who thinks that everything south of his position is Jesusland
Is Jesusland like Disneyland?
yes! complete with rides like Haunted Manger..and Crucifix Mountain..and It’s A Small…yeah, i’ll stop now.
Is Jesusland like Disneyland?
In more ways than you may think.
/shudder
don’t worry everyone, Scowly will round up the assholes behind this
So last night while walking my dog around 6 or 6:30 PM, there were 6+ cop cars at the back parking lot entrance to the Amtrak Station (on 8th St NW) with K-9 units and everything, plus there was a news helicopter (or some sort of helicopter with a front mounted camera) flying right above the station for a good 5-10 minutes(couldn’t read the insgnia on the choper). Does anyone have any inside info about this - was it shooting related or something else entirely? All I know is from the show of force, shit was going down.
the Wild Wings must’ve gotten wild…
I do hope that the shooters were actually driving a Gremlin. Not the brightest bulbs.
/reporting Live from Jesusland (wondering what type of rides we should install)
according to the News-Virginian one suspect has been arrested and the police are on the lookout for some 19 year old kid as a person of interest
and we of course have no one else to thank but Scowly for these latest developments
Hooray for Scowly!
If you check out the article on nbc29.com, they tell you how to properly pronounce “Crozet”.
@56 Gremlin s Rock seen one broken down on the side of 29 yesterday
Slade has quite the rap sheet, including arson, larceny, destruction of property.
Scowly knows who wears the red panties ’round these parts.
a little friday shot of classic B’ yo, I love it! You should be on the payroll.
Just found out the one on 29 broken was involved and the police where looking for that car.
@62 LMAO
So the suspect has two myspace pages:
http://www.myspace.com/lostbogger
http://www.myspace.com/bakyrdbogn
I always wondered who drove those jacked up trucks
Where did we get the suspect?
From old media’s new media oulet:
http://www.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/crime/article/police_seek_ballistic_link_to_interstate_shooting/7742/
Everytime someone’s infamously in the news, everyone goes and looks at their myspace page. On one hand, that’s their fault for putting stuff on the internet, but on the other hand, I feel like that’s kind of an invasion of their privacy. Now anybody can go look at his pictures, see him with some trucks and decide he was just some dumb redneck. That seems fucked up.
That seems fucked up.
So does shooting people driving down the highway.
right!!!
I think provides important insight and - more importantly - humanizes someone who would otherwise be portrayed as as a one-dimensional slice of crazy
you’d think the guy who has a Camo background on his myspace page might have the common sense not to drive around in a BRIGHT ORANGE 1974 AMC Gremlin to go on a routine shooting spree.
on the other hand, he doesn’t really strike me as a guy with much common sense.
I disagree. It allows you to take whatever you want from his page and use that to make assuming speculations on why he did this.
why he did this
why he allegedly did this, actually.
gotta go with Silmo on this. Relying only on press releases and his photo, and his prior convictions ( http://www.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/crime/article/shooting_suspect_has_previous_convictions/7745/ ) I think crazy delinquent.
When I see the myspace page, it helps make him into a person… It’s not irrelevant, or at least, not any less relevant than the common practice of interviewing classmates, neighbors, etc. These are his own words describing himself.
@75: Thank you Stanley. I think you all are forgetting that he was arrested for being “in connection” with the shootings. They didn’t prove yet that he was the shooter. But keep on spewing your stereotyped speculations.
not forgetting… is the problem that we think he’s a country boy who loves his trucks and the confederacy (ie: we think things about him that he says about himself)? Or that we think he did it?
I bet he drinks bud light.
@77… i bet he drinks nattie light
Well belittling someone for their interests is very stupid and ignorant on your behalf. Think of it this way, regardless this man/boy made bad some very bad decisions. And even put people in danger. What if at all, he was a victim of circumstance? If you do not know ALL of the story, do not jump to make rash decisons based on what the media is giving as half the story. Have some respect for his family, think of how badly they feel right now. Regardless if he was connected, or whatever, Mr. Woodson is always going to associated with this national/local incident. How would you feel if your child or close relative made some stupid decisions similar to this? Look at yourself, what have you done in your lifetime and regretted? Just be glad that no one was seriously hurt. Hopefully now everyone will think a little differently when judging someone they know nothing about.
It just pisses me off that you get a name and a picture and it’s go time. Oh and would ya look at that? He liked rednecky things..no wonder he supposedly went on a shooting spree! Y’all are forgetting this person even if guilty, is a member of our community and possibly is related to someone you know and it’s pretty tactless to have a field day with judgements and assumptions.
He looks like a PBR guy who will go for the KOB on a special occasion.
82: Shenanners gets it exactly right. I’m reserving judgment.
Come on, this is America…guilty until proven innocent.
/sarcastic?
@77 - I’m not stereotyping. Yes some people - certainly me - will drop their jaws and gasp in horror at this man’s taste, hobbies, and politics (read: culture) but that has absolutely nothing to do with his alleged shooting activity (unless you count sniping as a hobby…) While people in his sub-culture are more likely to own guns (clearly) I don’t think they are more likely to go on a crime spree. People from all walks of life can be and are frightening criminals. I for one am an arsonist. But that has nothing to do with my hobbies (other than the obvious), my taste (except when deciding my “targets”) or my politics (see “taste” and laws against fire starting). Well that’s not entirely true, each sub-culture has its popular crimes and each manifests sociopathic behavior in different ways, e.g. postal workers really are more inclined to shoot up their work place than people in most other careers.
So, if he’s found guilty, then it’s okay to start making jokes about his tastes in beer?
/waits patiently….
@84. Not me. Im going for the wildest speculation possible. This guy was obviously the first in a wave of genetically engineered gremlin driving snipers that hail from an underground lab/breeding center underneath Henley Middle School. Mark my words, he is guilty, but not to blame… the blame lies with Professor Claudius whose sociopathic genius is motivated by a hatred of the Interstate, late night transportation, and low interest credit cards. Until he is caught, no one is safe.
/I for one welcome our new genetically engineered gremlin driving sniper overlords.
So again, add fuel to the fire of the arguement(no pun intended). So if someome likes trucks or alittle mud ….. it makes them more likely to own a gun. I soooooo love you line of thinking here. ROCK ON PYRO!!!!. Remember as the wise and great beavis said”FIRE FIRE FIRE!!!”
Yes, NGEGDSOs, please help yourselves to judgement and ice cold BL. Just don’t expect Shen to serve it to you.
Byo: the other day you were being a downer on our light-hearted SWPL thread. Now you’re being ridiculous when we’re trying to have a serious dialogue. Jackass.
@81 - I completely agree!
@82 - ditto, sort of. I don’t like the terms red neck or white trash when applied to people based on their socio-economic position. I think it’s an acceptable pejorative when applied against people who exhibit certain “bad” behavior relatively common amongst people in that group, like yelling “fag” at people who drive through their neighborhood or voting republican.
And on top fo that I can not spell wooohooo!!!!!! Judge me for I am durRRRRRRRRR
I knew it !- I thought I saw genetically engineered gremlins creeping around late at night.
This is sooo GUD
@ 89 - I don’t think its stereotyping to say that gun ownership is common amongst the rural white working class. I just don’t see how that’s a stereotype. Also if you peruse his site you will see some evidence of gun ownership within his social circle, see e.g. the guy with the side arm strapped to his leg.
@ 91 - I think this is good to talk about and thanks for kicking things off. It does make an interesting counter point to the WLPL discussion. (WHere’s Grape on this one)
@ 90 - Dare I ask? What’s NGEGDSO?
I would like to voice my opinon, I feel you that no one of no this person or this family I agree with youramoron and
shenanigans. If this were to happen to a family member in your family think how you would feel. My heart goes out to the family. No one should be judged by the type of clothes they wear or the car they drive or what they live in.
Imagine if Slade and his buddies decided to go shoot the bank thinking that there was not going to be anyone around, so no one would get hurt; but it just so happened they decided to do it on the same night that some other psycho decided to randomly shoot cars on the interstate.
Sorry for the mis-type but it just angers me that people JUDGE so DAMN quickly
If this were to happen to a family member in your family think how you would feel. My heart goes out to the family. No one should be judged by the type of clothes they wear or the car they drive or what they live in.
@96 - see 88
@97 - or maybe they staged the highway shooting so there wouldn’t be any cops around to stop them from shooting up the bank.
@100 - Agreed and I feel a bit bad for bringing it up but what are you gonna do, ignore it? Wait until after the trial. Well I think the identity of suspected criminals should be secret until after the conviction but that ain’t the way things are. I feel bad for his family and for him.
You all are just just ASSes
No it really can not be ignored when it is right in the areas where you work and live. People are stupid, and even make stupid decisions. Just have the thought that this situation sucks, and cause its outside your back door. Or even better think, wow he made some poor decisions. His family has to be really feeling it right now. Keep them in your good thoughts and spirits if you have a back bone or a heart for that matter.
All of this bleeding heart liberal give it a break !
Have PBR and enjoy it!
Innocent until proven guilty is bleeding heart liberal?
goddam friggin’ commie constitution!
I think he meant “bleeding heart libel”.
@105 - “if you have a back bone or a heart for that matter.”
Really? I’ve kept out of this until now, but you really aren’t selling me on being sympathetic to someone who may or may not have shot at random cars on the highway by telling me I lack both a heart and a back bone.
You sound like you are personally affiliated here, so I understand the rage, but blaming people who are curious and maybe a little pissed their sleepy hamlet was rocked probably won’t get you any compassion. If you want to make people be more sympathetic, tell us why we should like him more, don’t yell at us for liking him less.
And let’s be honest, if it was a black guy we’d say it was all gangs and rap music, if it was a frat boy we’d say it was the napoleonic complex of the pivileged class, if it was an Arab we’d call him a terrorist. To ‘nanigan’s point, we would judge anyone by whatever image we saw on their MySpace page and run from there - redneck or not.
The whole reason the dude’s under the microscope is first and foremost because he’s in custody.
I just lit my shoe on fire
@*
A comment thread on a Gossip site that is predominantly defending the ’suspect’ of multiple shootings in the very town that it happened? The same place that people were afraid to be out in public less than 24 hours ago?
Has someone broken the intarwebs?
113: I wouldn’t characterize the commentariat as “defening the ’suspect’” (cute scare quotes, by the by). Rather, you’ve got several people arguing against a rush to judgment. We don’t even know all the relevant facts yet.
Yeah, I threw in the air quotes to be sure that everyone would know that I was only (air quote) indirectly referring to the person of interest (/air quote).
/and so that I could answer that question when they were inevitably mentioned.
~114:
And you’re right. Scanning back over it, the general motion is towards neutrality and/or compassion for the family.
I got all caught up in it the thread momentum and it seemed more black and white on the first read through.
/intarwebs has broken me.
/intarwebs has broken me
It’s cool. We’ve all been there. Just have some Cheetos, hork some space bag, and you’ll make it through.
[…] Initial Coverage of the shooting incident […]
I had a dream about a spacebag last night!
oh and fires out btw. no worries.
Hey all, just thought I pass along some information regarding the mystery man that was shot by the Albemarle PO in Crozet during an arrest/search for one of these suspects.
A friend in Greenwood who is a parent of a kid who has been in high school and friendly with the 2 suspects tells me that the man shot was the father of one of the suspects. When the police, ATF, et al. came to make the arrest, he came out to greet them with a handgun visible. Then he got shot. That’s all I know.
Now I’m just relating what I heard from a very reputable source, and I did a scan of the 3 posts on this, so I hope I’m not repeating anybody else.
Just read Slade Woodson is looking at 100 - 150 years max. He will be punished. For me it is very interesting
how people react to a tragic situation that is very rare for where we all live. On the posts have been shock, anger, sadness, compassion for his family, stereotyping using clues from pictures, fear, lack of compassion
for his family, hate, quick judgments, wait and hear more before judging people. Folks opposed to stereotyping and many more. This is fascinating, trust me, had he killed someone my interest would be no where near as open minded (does that make me a hypocrite?).
I still feel horrible for his family. Unlike a few people I do not feel parents can be responsible for their (adult) kids actions,that may be wrong. Was reading the Hook blog, discussions about school vs.parent’s responsibility are jumping there.Not to drive it in the ground, this has been like a psych poll.I think there is not right or wrong
with opinions.I can say with conviction, this is a very diverse bunch of posters and lurkers on the cVillian!
VERY INTERESTING!
My opinion is wrong. I don’t believe it for a second.
In my opinion, I should be allowed to decide if I think your opinion is wrong
That is what is so great about opinions! How do ya like them apples? Sort of like the diff of debates and
arguments, remember? Another boring day here, thank goodness!
More stories, yours are so enjoyable.
Dance for us monkey.
guess what.stop judging people!leave the 16 year old alone.i dont care what you do to slade.hell i would kill him if i could but i cant.the teen is a good kid.trust him with my life really.so just do everyone a favor and leave him alone.he just got mixed up with the wrong person.
Gee, look at all the white trash defending their criminal pals. Instead of whining about how mean people on the internet are judgmental, you should be embarrassed that your retarded friends could’ve killed someone. Then again, birds of a feather flock together, so it wouldn’t surprise me if a bunch of you were criminals too. Tell Slade and the 16-year-old have fun with Bubba in the prison showers, LOL.
Stop drinking that Haterade and have some Firecrotch.
I haven’t had any firecrotch in weeks. More bars should keep red Gatorade stocked.
OXO stocked up on some last weekend. Just for you, Echo baby.
That’s awesome…except I’m leaving for Texas tomorrow for a week.
More for me