Second Arrest Made In Highway Shooting

Va. Cops: 16-Year-Old Suspect Is Friends With 19-Year-Old Man Arrested Earlier

(AP)  A manhunt for shooters whose potshots at passing cars shut down a mountain highway ended Friday when authorities stormed a central Virginia farm, arresting a teenager and firing at a man carrying a gun.

Investigators said they now believe the shootings that slightly injured two drivers were part of a long night of random gunfire in which the 19-year-old, a former high school athlete with a record of making trouble, and a 16-year-old also shot at a credit union and a residence.

"Everyone can, I think, rest compared to the state that we were in overnight," State Police Superintendent Steven Flaherty said at a news conference in Charlottesville.

Slade Allen Woodson, of Afton, was charged in the shootings at the home and the credit union early Thursday, as well as the Interstate 64 shootings, which stirred memories of the Washington-area sniper shootings six years ago that killed 10 people.

Authorities also charged a 16-year-old from Crozet whose name was not released.

Besides Woodson's charges in the building shootings, he and the other teen were charged with two felony counts of malicious wounding, one count of attempted malicous wounding, two counts of the use of a firearm in a felony and five counts of maliciously shooting at an occupied vehicle.

They were being held pending bond hearings Monday.

On a MySpace page attributed to Woodson, he described his occupation as "mechanic, sorta" and wrote, "Im just a country boy who keeps gettin his heart broken!!! Ive got my heart broken twice in less then a year... i dunno wat to do.... keep gettin my heart broke or stop caring!!! and i dont wanna stop caring."

Police declined to offer a possible motive in the highway shootings, which began early Thursday in central Virginia.

According to police, authorities took a call minutes after midnight from a driver in a car that had been shot. In the hours that followed, gunshots hit another car, a van, a tractor-trailer and an unoccupied dump truck.

Sometime between midnight and 2 a.m. Thursday, shots also were fired at the credit union and a residence in Waynesboro.

Investigators promptly shut down a 20-mile stretch of I-64 between Waynesboro and Charlottesville, home to the University of Virginia, reopening it around dawn.

Surveillance video at the credit union captured a light-colored AMC Gremlin around the time shots were fired there, and police found the car Thursday afternoon, abandoned along a road.

Authorities determined that Woodson owns a vehicle similar to the car in the video and accelerated a manhunt that wrapped up in a pre-dawn raid Friday.

Elaine Paley, who lives on a hill overlooking the horse and cattle farm near Crozet, said she was awakened at 4:40 a.m. by a helicopter shining a spotlight on the farm and surrounding woods.

State and county police moved in on the farm just before 5 a.m., shooting a man who confronted them with a handgun, police said. Woodson was taken into custody, and the man was taken to a hospital, where he was in stable condition. His identity wasn't released.

The Albemarle County police officer involved in the shooting is on administrative leave with pay, Chief John Miller said.

Police recovered a gun from the house that is the same caliber as most of the ballistic evidence from the shootings.

"I can't tell you that is the weapon, but it's of the same caliber," Flaherty said.

According to news reports and court records, Woodson was arrested Jan. 18, 2007, on allegations he stole two pickup trucks and set them on fire. Woodson, a former high school pole vaulter, was convicted of two misdemeanor counts of petit larceny and given a suspended sentence.

At Woodson's home in Afton, a handwritten statement was duct-taped to a blue-green Isuzu Trooper parked in front of a white split-level house with a wooden fence, a swingset in the yard and an American flag.

"All we can say is that we love our boy an(d) we hope the incident on I-64 is not related to him," the note stated. "We also want to say our hearts are with the innocent victim that was shot by police during our sons arrest."

People at the home declined to be interviewed.

Glen Woodson, the suspect's father, repeated those comments in a phone interview.

[iknowbest-2009]

Somebody still drives an AMC Gremlin? Outstanding!

[extremophil]

If I drove a light-colored AMC Gremlin I might get homicidal too.

[markbrookhar]

Jumkey, lets not forget that a person only becomes a criminal when they commit a crime with a gun, not because they have the "potential" to commit a crime by owning a gun. Whoever did this should be captured and punished, but how is anyone to differentiate between the millions of responsible and legal gun owners, and the very small percentage of people who abuse the right? How do you propose to pre-select those who will be responsible and who will not? I could equally say after an auto accident- "This is a perfect example of what is wrong with our driving laws in this country - we allow ANYONE to have a car. And every time something like this occurs the car nuts demand even MORE mental cases get access to automobiles."

[matter77]

BAN ALL ANTI-FREEZE SALES IMMEDIATELY. Keep this substance out of the hands of crazed and wicked housewives who are using it to poison their husbands. And the Police should have the authority to enter your home at anytime to search for sharp objects. You cannot be trusted with them. And seize all microwave ovens immediately! No one with a conviction for ANY crime, even a misdemeanor, should be permitted to purchase any flammable substance including fuel.

[markbrookhar]

Shurchfortruth, there already are reasonable rules to keep guns out of the hands of wackos- everyone can NOT have a gun under any circumstances. Almost all people who commit a crime with a gun have committed other crimes already, and do NOT have the right to have own or possess a gun. check the statistics. Also, a person is still much more likely to be killed or hurt in an auto accident than by a gun-shot. Also, your statistic for the USA having the highest rate of gun deaths in the world is inaccurate. There are plenty of countries where a non-combantant civilian is much more likely to be shot with a gun: Iraq for example (by US forces), also several African countries, and Indonesia (typically by Moslem extreemists).

[displeased]

I want to protect my right to be killed by a gun.
Posted by SHURCH4TRUTH

You also have the right to be killed by a car, a bomb, a baseball bat, a machete, anthrax, etc.

[gunownerdan]

This is a perfect example of what''s wrong with our gun laws in this country - we allow ANYONE to have them. And every time something like this occurs the gun nuts demand even MORE mental cases get access to weapons.
Posted by jumkey

To you everyone is a mental nutcase. And no, we do not allow just anyone to legally buy a gun. If you were not so hateful and ignorant of the laws maybe you would know this.

[displeased]

I could probably kill you with a pencil also, but its a lot less likely than if I had a hand gun!
Posted by timetrips1

But if you didn''t have a gun, you would use the pencil. My point is, if somebody wants to kill, they''ll find a way.

[kennergirl]

He was driving a GREMLIN! I can''t believe they are still on the road. This guy must be some kind of idiot. He steals cars and torches them last year but he uses his own car to shoot at people from. That took a lot of brains.

[newsjunky5]

"these are third world nations and one of those you mention currently has a war going on on its own turf."
------------------------------------
Actually, we have 2 wars going on our turf. The War on Drugs and The War on Terrorism. Both brought to you by the same guys. These are the first two wars fought on American soil since the Civil War. (not counting Johnson''s War on Poverty, which did not result in people getting shot)

[bhappy2-2]

Someone is injured or killed EVERY SINGLE TIME someone uses a gun, if used correctly. And the PURPOSE for gun is to injure or kill, unlike a pencil.

Get the difference now?

Posted by jumkey

I have used my guns for over thirty five years and NO ONE has been injured or killed by them. I think the reference to EVERY SINGLE TIME would, therefore, be completely inaccurate. Another gross exaggeration of the people who would have EVERYONE disarmed to suit THEIR agenda.

[iknowbest-2009]

I''ll bet he''s a registered Democrat.

[tomanyt]

He sure is a cute sniper.

[displeased]

And the PURPOSE for gun is to injure or kill, unlike a pencil.
Get the difference now?
Posted by jumkey

I agree with bhappy2-2. I''ve owned my rifles for 12 years and have never killed anything with them. Anything, including a pencil, can be used as a weapon depending on the determination.

[newsjunky5]

"Someone is injured or killed EVERY SINGLE TIME someone uses a gun, if used correctly. And the PURPOSE for gun is to injure or kill, unlike a pencil."
------------------------------
Nonsense. I''ve used guns thousands of times, correctly, and no one has been threatened or shot by me ever.
Most shooting is done at targets/broken appliances and by hunters. It just doesn''t make good TV programing. So most people who haven''t been around guns only experience them on TV, where someone always gets shot, but usually in a fictitious dramatization.
Otherwise TV would be boring.
Do you personally know someone who would really use a rifle to shoot at traffic?

[barbaraf4]

This guy is a hunk!

[newsjunky5]

"He was driving a GREMLIN! I can''''t believe they are still on the road."

"I''''ll bet he''''s a registered Democrat."
-------------------

The Gremlin would point to yes, but that''s Right Wing Religious country(Republicans without money), so I''d guess Repulican.
And I''m sure THAT Gremlin isn''t on the road anymore. I hope they let him grab the 8-track player out of it before it went to the impound lot.

[salty1954]

He is very cute.
I''m sure there are fights taking place in prison right now, over who is gonna be his ''daddy''.

[kounkenardo]

If I had to drive a Gremlin every day, I''d be shooting at cars too

[scottyusa]

These stories always seem to bring out the gun law arguements. I don''t own a gun but was taught how to use them from my uncle and then again in the military. Gun laws would not stop gun crimes any more than the drug war is stopping drugs. Criminals, by definition, break laws get it? Taking guns from the innocent law abiding citizen and punishing them for what the criminals are doing is criminal in itself. Better to be able to defend yourself with the same weapon the criminal is using don''t you think? If you cannot see the sense in that then try outlawing bullets. They are what really does all the killing.

[bhappy2-2]

...guys, the point he is making is that whenever a gun is use with the intent to shoot someone, that person is wounded or killed....I would add to that the accidental shoots...in total about 20,000 to 30,000 times a year. Yes, some are justifiable self defence shoots....no problem them. the problem is with the accidents and allowing just about anyone to have a gun without proper background...and again...the NRA wants your dues to pay for their elaborate life styles...that''''s why, in my opinion, they keep you in the dark...I prefer to use the money to go on hunting trips.

Reasonable gun laws will save lives.

Posted by SHURCH4TRUTH

If that was the point he was trying to make he should have used words other than EVERY SINGLE TIME. It''s kind of like if I claim "EVERY SINGLE TIME there is a thunderstorm I lose power". This would be an inaccurate statement since not ALL thunderstorms are near my home. Generalizations and exaggerations helps no one, does not further their purpose and causes their points (valid or not) to be ignored by the majority of people.

[newsjunky5]

Anyone remember the movie, "Evil Roy Slade?" I think it was out about the same time as the Gremlin.

[newsjunky5]

"Check the water in Virginia..."
---------------
For bodies?

[tomanyt]

salty1954...He just needs "daddy" to give him a hug.

[gunownerdan]

Someone is injured or killed EVERY SINGLE TIME someone uses a gun, if used correctly.
Posted by jumkey

What a totally ignorant statement!
Are you on crack?
There are 80,000,000 gun owners in America and a tiny fraction of us will ever use our guns illegally to harm someone.
Stop relying so heavily on stereotypes.

[displeased]

AND WE GOT OURSELVES SOME MORE GUN VIOLENCE FOLKS!! GEE, HOW LONG DID THAT TAKE?? A DAY??? LESS GUNS = MORE PEACE!!!!
Posted by MegamanX1

We live with violence everyday, with or without guns. There''s more to the equation other than the weapon.

[displeased]

Guns have a lot to do with killing people.
Posted by USBrit

Determination to kill has a lot to do with killing people. It''s happened throughout history, even before guns existed.

[tomanyt]

Sounds like you could be one of those idiots that "dates" prisoners. Good luck with that.

idiot

Posted by vbnvbnvbn
Why don''t you get of your high horse. He is cute.

[tomanyt]

Simplemind2...Little judgmental aren''t you?

[hoosiermoon]

One more big turrrd headed for the septic tank.

[nwihoosier]

Peace and Love
Lots of silly talk here, yet NO ONE sees the obvious clue to a personality disorder.....he was driving an AMC Gremlin! Ban Gremlins not guns.
Peace and Love

[bhappy2-2]

Why is this country so hung up on guns anyway? Posted by USBrit

Oh, I don''t know. Possibly because we had to FIGHT the BRITISH. WITH GUNS that were owned by INDIVIDUALS.

[displeased]

Takes a lot more determination to go up to some and run a knife through them than it does to squeeze a trigger at someone across the room.
Posted by USBrit

Yes, guns make it easier, and I think there should be regulations enforced because not everybody is capable or responsible of owning a gun. But my point is, there are a lot of screwed up people out there that would have more determination to run a knife through a law abiding citizen knowing they don''t have a gun to stop them. You can remove the guns from law abiding citizens, but you won''t remove them from the criminals.

[gunownerdan]

"..the peaceable part of mankind will be continually overrun by the vile and abandoned, while they neglect the means of self defence."
-- Thomas Paine, The Writings of Thomas Paine, Vol. I (1774-1779) [1774]


A-HUMAN-RIGHT.com

[newsjunky5]

"Beauty is only skin-deep."
---------
But ugly is to the bone.

[usbrit-2009]

Oh, I don''''t know. Possibly because we had to FIGHT the BRITISH. WITH GUNS that were owned by INDIVIDUALS.

Posted by bhappy2-2

Yeah - y''all cheated. In war you''re supposed to dress up in red, walk in a straight line down the middle of the road with guns that only work sporadically because they''re supplied by the Government. You all on the other hand had the nerve to dress shabbily, hide behind trees and use immaculately kept up guns from your own house. Definitely all against the rules!!! (LOL)

[mjvw2]

this must be George Bush''s fault

[usbrit-2009]

Posted by Displeased

I take your point - well stated.

[bobnjersey]

[Walker said police found a light-colored AMC Gremlin seen on surveillance video around the time shots were fired. Thee car had been abandoned along U.S. 29 in Albemarle County. ]

amazing ... there''s still an amc gremlin that''s running? i wonder if the owner has a pacer as well?

[bobnjersey]

[What kind of people judge others solely based on their "Appearance/look"? So shallow/superficial! Beauty is only skin-deep. ]
[Posted by Simplemind2 at 02:59 PM : Mar 28, 2008]

everyone does ... and if that''s all they have ... this will define their assessment. it''s sometimes referred to as ''first impression''.

if you know what to look for in ones demeanor and reaction to specific situations or language ... you can determine quite a lot. if they open their mouth and respond ... you can tell more than you might think.

[markbrookhar]

tomanyt said- "Why don''''t you get of your high horse. He is cute."

Instead of blaming guns, lets blame tomanyt. If the boy had been kept "busy" getting over being lonely by some honey, he wouldn''t have time to plink at cars on the interstate. BTW- sometimes those "cute" guys can be sociopaths with narcissic tendancies who beat their women and think the world revolves around them. How is that for a stereotype!!!

[mjvw2]

Anyway, here''''s my suggestion. Allen Woodson should never never ever be allowed to posses a firearm. Even to keep in his house for protection or for shooting at appliances or just to adorn his mantle. What do you say NRA?



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by jumkey

The only house this guy should ever be allowed to live in is the Big House. And if he gets out, I agree

[gunownerdan]

I''''m amazed by how gun owners are seemingly not even the least bit concerned about that fact that people regularly use guns to randomly slaughter completely innocent people.
Posted by jumkey

If some nut case is trying to use a gun to randomly slaughter YOU, how are you going to stop them?
By asking nicely?
By calling 911?
How about offering them a hug and a cup of tea?

[usmcvn2]

I''''''''m amazed by how gun owners are seemingly not even the least bit concerned about that fact that people regularly use guns to randomly slaughter completely innocent people.
Posted by jumkey

Well, I''m a gun owner and you are right, I care about me. Its not my problem if these people want to kill each other.

And I won''t be lighting any candles for anybody either.

Hey there jumkey, did you ever answer my question?

[mjvw2]

gunownerdan - maybe we should send them to counseling LOL

[gunownerdan]

exCoachKen,
FYI
Back when the the Bill Of Rights was written, well-regulated meant capable, or well trained.

gunownerdan, a couple of days ago, I laid out a situation and asked jumkey to answer what he/she would do, and never got an answer, I guess he/she just trolls%u2026.

[gmond]

Ban Gremlins.

[bozworth4]

Why can''''t those who are fixated on deadly weapons able to give a little ground to get these weapons out of the hands of the crazies?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by exCoachKen at 04:19 PM : Mar 28, 2008

I own guns! If the authorities can''t regulate the present laws, maybe gun owners should report known violations. To keep our guns, we may all have to kiss a lot of frogs. guns in this type of nuts hands makes it bad for the rest of us.
In my neighbor hood 37 stolen guns were taken from a felons house. After 3 years of jockying and dealing he got 5 years of probation. He was already on the 2nd year of a five year probation for receiving stolen goods. Where are the crime and punishment. Put teeth in our present laws. We gun owners are going to have to be the ones to help enforce the laws. Lets get to work on this instead of sitting on our hands waving the rights flag and repeating the same old stuff!!! It''s time to get the guns out of the hands of nuts!!!