Richmond woman killed by crossfire outside Brunswick County nightclub
Shannon E. Henley
A 22-year-old Richmond woman died after she was struck by a stray bullet from a gunfight between two men outside a nightclub Sunday in Brunswick County, authorities confirmed today.
Shannon E. Henley was pronounced dead at Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center in Emporia not long after the 3 a.m. shooting at Meljos at U.S. 58 and Reedy Creek Road, said Brunswick Sheriff's Maj. Kent C. Washburn.
Washburn said it appears Henley was caught in the crossfire during a shooting between two men and a stray bullet penetrated the car she was riding in, striking her in the right side.
Police have arrested one of the two men on a gun charge, but no one has been charged yet with the slaying, Washburn said.
Washburn gave this account:
An argument between two men at the club erupted in gunfire shortly after 3 a.m. "They started shooting at each other outside the club," Washburn said.
Officers on scene quickly intervened and observed some men near the road outside the club. They chased them on foot and officers apprehended one of the shooters and recovered a gun, Washburn said.
A short time later, police received a report of woman who had been shot inside a vehicle at a service station three to five miles from the club. Police and rescue workers responded and found Henley in the vehicle with a gunshot wound.
"It appears that one of the bullets (from the club shooting) went through the car door and struck her," Washburn said.
Washburn said between 300 and 500 people were partying at the club.
Shavon Ragsdale, a friend of Henley's who traveled to Brunswick to celebrate the Fourth of July, said observers initially believed the gunshots were exploding fireworks and didn't think too much about it. Ragsdale said she was later stunned to learn that her friend had been fatally wounded.
"She was the only person hit in the shooting," Ragsdale said.
Henley had graduated in May from Virginia State University and was a 2004 graduate of Armstrong High School, Ragsdale said. She leaves behind a 1-year-old daughter, Kaylyn, who is now being cared for by a grandmother.
-- Mark Bowes
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Reader Reactions
really..does all this talk matter? the moral of this story is a young innocent life was lost and its tragic. her poor daughter and family… feel so bad for them. such an awful situation. guns dont kill people - STUPID PEOPLE DO.
dogtown…your pointing out the fact that us responsible gun owners want MORE education and training with firearms too, not just more guns in the hands of citizens. Stop sweeping the 2nd ammendment under the rug. It needs to be taught, and ingrained in everybody’s minds, whether you choose to own a gun or not. With that comes education, training, and responsibility with firearms so that mistakes do not happen. Know your rights. Know the law. Then make your choice on whether to carry a gun or not.
As stated by me before:“You choose however you wish to defend yourself. I’ll send flowers.“
dogtown;
I have been trained in the use of firearms, I am very good with many different types. I exercise my right to keep and bear arms because I can’t carry a cop on my hip.
dogtown,
Thanks for your concern of my well being. But, Worry about yourself, I’m smart and safe enough on the legal aspects of gun ownership and use to make the right decision if or when the time comes. Id rather be able to make the decision myself than to have the court dictate any situation I’d ever be in when it comes to my well being and safety in my own home. I hope you dont ever have the need to defend your safety, sounds like you wouldnt know how or even want to do it.
I’d also rather go to jail taking the life of an armed burgular than to take the chance of his killing my family. If thats the price I have to pay for the lives of my family, then its worth it. I will pray for your family and hope you dont find yourself wishing you could have done something to protect them in a bad situation when you could have done something.
dogtown - I’ll take my chances on an “average” citizen who may not have restraint and legal knowledge as opposed to a thug who thug who could care less about my life.
Ban guns and all you’ll get are armed bad guys and unarmed good guys. And as for them being weapons of war - wake up. We’re in one.
tman70043, I sincerely hope that you do not end up using a weapon to defend property and subject to an indictment similar to the young man in Richmond. Guns-rights advocates should not be too comfortable with the recent Second Amendment Supreme Court decision. Eventually, private citizens taking the law into their own hands “wild-west” style, will result in a recognition and re-interpretation that the right to own and bear arms extends to militias and law enforcement agencies as the Founding Fathers likely intended.
dogtown,
Anyone thinking they can shoot and kill someone while they are running away from a car theft attempt, is the exception. That person obviously was just so pee’d off that this was happening and now trying to use whatever he can say to try and get out of it. This one, and very few other incidents will never prevent “we the people” from owning guns. I mean really, how do you think your idea would ever happen? OK now everyone turn in your guns. YEah right! This country was built upon the right to bear arms and will stay that way, sorry you dont agree. BTW, the weapons I use to hunt with are far more dangerous than the handguns you are suggesting should be illegal. Atleast when the thugs have a handgun they can hardly ever hit anything. So, we take that away and then they turn to sawed off shot guns, hi cal rifles, worse yet pipe bombs, handgranades? If all they have are the pistols (and I know they sometimes have more), then they can do far less harm than the alternatives.
Any one want to make a bet that drugs and or alcohol were involved.
Despite the protests from those supporting wider ownership of weapons, most private citizens lack the judgment,personal restraint, skills, legal knowledge, and training to defend themselves effectively and in accordance with the law.
Just yesterday a young man was indicted by a Richmond Grand Jury because he mistakenly believed he had the “right” to use deadly force to protect property - a right which Virginia Law does not grant.
Not only is his victim dead - without having had the right of a fair trial as provided by our system of laws - this young man has likely ruin his own life and caused his family and friends immeasurable anguish as a result of impulsiveness, fear, and ignorance of the Law. He has been indicted for second degree murder and prosecutors express a high degree of confidence that he will be convicted.
According to law, there are almost no circumstances in which a private citizen is legally authorized to use deadly force. Yet, the gun lobby persists in perpetuating the myth that without widespread gun ownership, every one of our lives would be in imminent danger. Except for rifles and shotguns used for hunting, we would all be safer if if high-powered pistols and long guns intended for military or police department use were not available to the average citizen - those are weapons of war, not sporting weapons.
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