Stray bullet killed Richmond woman
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 last weekend in Brunswick County, authorities confirmed yesterday.
Shannon E. Henley was pronounced dead at Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center in Emporia not long after the 3 a.m. shooting Sunday at Meljos at U.S. 58 and Reedy Creek Road, said Brunswick sheriff's Maj. Kent C. Washburn.
It appears Henley was caught in the crossfire during shooting by two men, and a stray bullet penetrated the car she was riding in, striking her in the right side, Washburn said.
Police have arrested one of the two men on a gun charge, but no one has been charged with Henley's death.
Henley graduated in May from Virginia State University and was a 2004 graduate of Armstrong High School. She leaves behind a 1-year-old daughter, Kaylyn Blackwell, who is now being cared for by a grandmother, said Shavon Ragsdale, a friend of Henley's.
Authorities gave this account of the shooting:
An argument between two men erupted in gunfire shortly after 3 a.m. as the club was closing. "They started shooting at each other outside the club," Washburn said.
Five deputies providing security on site quickly intervened and observed some men near the road outside the club. They chased two men on foot who were seen running from the scene and officers apprehended one of them, recovering a gun, Washburn said.
A short time later, police received a report of a woman who had been shot inside a vehicle at a service station 3 to 5 miles from the club. Police and rescue workers responded and found Henley in the vehicle with a gunshot wound.
Washburn said 300 to 500 people were partying at the club.
Ragsdale, who traveled to Brunswick to celebrate the Fourth of July, said observers initially believed the gunshots were 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. "We were in the car behind."
Washburn declined to immediately release the name of the one man arrested, citing the ongoing investigation. The man was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.
Investigators are awaiting the results of forensic tests on evidence collected at the scene before proceeding with a murder charge, Washburn said.
Anyone with information about the shooting can call Brunswick Crime Solvers at (434) 848-2336 or toll free at (866) 884-5732.
A funeral for Henley will be held Friday at 1 p.m. at the March Funeral Home Chapel, 2100 E. Laburnum Ave.
Contact Mark Bowes at (804) 649-6450 or
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Reader Reactions
jasch21…you really are wondering why she would be out at 3am? I’m sorry, I didn’t realize that when we become mothers that we are no longer allowed to go out and enjoy our youths once in a while. As a 25yr old mother of a 5 yr old, I find no harm in a mother going out once in a while to enjoy herself. I know I sure do!
I happened to read the obituary, and now, the story. Wow. I was considering graduate school and have decided ‘not yet’ because I have a 1-year old. This young lady forged ahead for a better life for herself and her baby and unfortunately was in the wrong place at the wrong time. So tragic.
My first thought was how sad this was unlike some posters who felt the young lady should not be out at 3 am who to say she had not had a long hard work week and was blowing off steam at a party? That could have been same for all the party-goers. She was a mother of a young child and maybe a single parent ( we all know how hard that is) and she was a college gradute wanting to do something better in life for herself and child. She was out for the evening when these scumbags decide that want to have a gun fight and kill an innocent young lady. So it does not matter if she was armed or not her fate was sealed by these thugs and their reckless actions. So it comes down to finding the person who killed this beautiful young lady and prosecuting them to the fullest extent of the law. As for being armed that is fine with me but I dont think it would have mattered much in this instance as the young lady was unaware of what was taking place. My prayers to the family
Are you kidding me, your first thought was why is a woman with a young child out at this time of night. You ought to be ashamed of disrespecting this family. The first thought should be poor woman and poor child and other family members, how devastating it is to lose a respectable family member.
This amazing woman will be missed. thoughtful, kind, unpretentious, and diligent. The posts above don’t begin to capture what we’ve lost with her passing. She was a beautiful soul.
My thought when reading this was why is someone with a 1yo still out at 3am? Not to say folks with kids dont deserve a life, but more problems do seem to happen like this after midnight then before.
Given the state of the world, and amreica itself, I think its now more than ever important for people like myself to be able to own a gun. My father, just before he passed, gave me a 9mm Beretta (with 9/11 , “Dont Forget”, and the us flag on it) right after 9/11. He said, son I want you to hvae this because I’m afraid one day you’ll have to stand up for your country against people like the terrorist and defend your family and the coutry. The military and police force wont be able to do it on its own, they may not be there for you in a time of need. I take these words heavily. He was once military, like myself, and was best friends with Sheriff and many other law enforcement. The law enforcement was telling my father the same things. There were probably times in our country we didnt all need guns like we had. But, given the state of affairs of the world I dont believe restricting us is the thing to do. And restricting from the thugs already happens, but that doesnt come close to stopping them. They got off on carrying illegal guns. Its their way of life!
“It is more a subject of joy [than of regret] that we have so few of the desperate characters which compose modern regular armies. But it proves more forcibly the necessity of obliging every citizen to be a soldier; this was the case with the Greeks and Romans and must be that of every free State. Where there is no oppression there can be no pauper hirelings.“—Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 1813.
“A well-disciplined militia, our best reliance in peace and for the first moments of war till regulars may relieve them, I deem [one of] the essential principles of our Government, and consequently [one of] those which ought to shape its administration.“
—Thomas Jefferson: 1st Inaugural, 1801.
“[The] governor [is] constitutionally the commander of the militia of the State, that is to say, of every man in it able to bear arms.“—Thomas Jefferson to A. L. C. Destutt de Tracy, 1811.
“Uncertain as we must ever be of the particular point in our circumference where an enemy may choose to invade us, the only force which can be ready at every point and competent to oppose them, is the body of neighboring citizens as formed into a militia. On these, collected from the parts most convenient, in numbers proportioned to the invading foe, it is best to rely, not only to meet the first attack, but if it threatens to be permanent, to maintain the defence until regulars may be engaged to relieve them.“
—Thomas Jefferson: 1st Annual Message, 1801. ME 3:334
“We must train and classify the whole of our male citizens, and make military instruction a regular part of collegiate education. We can never be safe till this is done.“
—Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 1813.
“The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that… it is their right and duty to be at all times armed.“
—Thomas Jefferson to John Cartwright, 1824.
“One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them.“
—Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 1796. ME 9:341
“A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives a moderate exercise to the Body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind . . . Let your gun therefore be the constant companion of your walks.“
—Thomas Jefferson, Letter to his nephew Peter Carr, August 19, 1785.
“No freeman shall be debarred the use of arms.“
—Thomas Jefferson: Draft Virginia Constitution with (his note added), 1776. Papers, 1:353
“Laws that forbid the carrying of arms . . . disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes . . . Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.“
—Thomas Jefferson, quoting Cesare Beccaria in On Crimes and Punishment (1764).
“Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not.“
Thomas Jefferson
Third President of the United States
“Firearms stand next in importance to the constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty teeth and keystone under independence … from the hour the Pilgrims landed to the present day, events, occurences and tendencies prove that to ensure peace security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable … the very atmosphere of firearms anywhere restrains evil interference — they deserve a place of honor with all that’s good.“
George Washington
First President of the United States
“The supposed quietude of a good man allures the ruffian; while on the other hand arms, like laws, discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as property. The same balance would be preserved were all the world destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside … Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them.“
Thomas Paine
“To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them.“
Richard Henry Lee
American Statesman, 1788
“The great object is that every man be armed.“ and “Everyone who is able may have a gun.“
Patrick Henry
“Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the difference between having our arms in possession and under our direction and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?“
Patrick Henry
So in fact, it’s NOT a “modern interpretation”, it’s a FOUNDING FATHER STATEMENT as to why the Second Amendment was added.
I fully agree. War on drugs is a hood placed over the publics eyes to allow wasteful spending. Wow, I have a new found respect for you. But, the extreme gun laws will not work. My wife is from EUR and her country has very very strict gun laws. So, whats the problem? Only criminals and police have them. And, the police are way out numbered by the criminals. Since the thugs/mexican cartels/billy bob in the mountains can easily obtain weapons illegally, I dont want the government holding me back from doing the same, albeit legally. Just like the “war on drugs” , extreme gun laws would be crazy way for the government to do what they want at our expense. Sorry for mispellings.
Because its easier for a criminal to get guns and weapons! You’d have to be street smart to know that. Or just have common sense.
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