A shooting broke out in the 16000 block of Rogers Road in Culpeper County Wednesday evening, leaving multiple people shot and prompting a large law enforcement response, according to deputies. FOX 5 DC reported that two men were injured and described their wounds.
FOX 5 DC reported that the shooting was reported around 6:36 p.m., and that sheriff's officials confirmed multiple victims were involved. The Culpeper County Sheriff's Office also posted an update on social media just before 7 p.m. reporting a large law enforcement presence in the area, according to DC News Now.
In that post, the sheriff's office wrote, “Please stay clear of the area while the investigation continues,” per the same account from DC News Now reporter Jenny Gable. Deputies have not released how many people were shot, nor have they said whether anyone has been detained or identified as a suspect.
Where the Shooting Happened
Rogers Road's 16000 block is home to local institutions including Mountain View Community Church at 16088 Rogers Road, according to the Culpeper Times. It is unknown whether any residential or church properties were affected by Wednesday's shooting, as that detail has not been confirmed by investigators.
The sheriff's office has asked the public to stay away from the area while deputies work the scene, a request repeated in the agency's social media update. Culpeper County Sheriff Timothy W. Chilton, who took office in January 2024 after winning election the previous November, leads the agency now investigating the shooting, according to WUSA9.
Command Staff Overseeing the Investigation
Chilton appointed Chief Deputy Mark L. Jones, a 30-year law enforcement veteran who previously served with the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office, in February 2024 to oversee deputy operations and criminal investigations, according to a post from the Culpeper Police Department on CRIMEWATCH. Jones' role puts him in position to help direct the department's response to major incidents like Wednesday's shooting, though officials have not said who is leading this specific case.
Culpeper County is home to an estimated 57,700 residents spread across nearly 380 square miles of central Virginia, according to U.S. Census Bureau data cited by USAFacts. The sheriff's office runs its public safety and communications operations out of a headquarters at 14023 Public Safety Court in Culpeper.
What Charges Could Follow
Virginia law offers several potential charges depending on what investigators determine about the shooting and the extent of any injuries. Under Virginia Code § 18.2-51, maliciously shooting or wounding someone with intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or kill is a Class 3 felony, according to the Code of Virginia.
If a malicious shooting causes severe, permanent physical impairment, the charge can escalate to Aggravated Malicious Wounding under Virginia Code § 18.2-51.2, a Class 2 felony punishable by 20 years to life in prison. Separately, maliciously discharging a firearm at or within an occupied building in a way that endangers lives is a Class 4 felony under Virginia Code § 18.2-279, carrying two to 10 years in prison, a penalty that escalates to second-degree murder charges if someone is killed.
It remains unclear whether a suspect has been identified, and whether any of these statutes would apply depends on the circumstances of the shooting.
FOX 5 DC reported that two men were injured, described their wounds, and said the suspect fled; the investigation remained active.
