JAMES CITY COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) — A mother and her son continue to recover after she suffered life-threatening injuries and he was injured after they were shot in a road rage incident in James City County Saturday, police and friends said.
Man charged after road rage incident leaves two hurt with gunshot wounds in James City County James City County Police said 44-year-old Joseph Adams faces 24 charges in connection to the incident, including two counts of aggravated malicious wounding for firing at last five shots into a car at the intersection of Centerville Road and Monticello Avenue.
It was 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon, and a normal day at the intersection of Centerville Road and Monticello Avenue, until that point.
“So as they were turning on to Centerville Road, a suspect in the red vehicle ended up approaching them at a high rate of speed,” said JCC Police public information officer Tayleb Brooks. “And he ended up coming very close to them, almost crashing into them. And as they were traveling down Centreville to turn on to Monticello, as the suspect was continuing straight, they exchanged gestures. He was yelling out of his window. And then ultimately, he just had an outburst of violence, pulled a firearm out and then shot into the vehicle five times.”
The mother was able to drive her car one mile until she stopped at the intersection of Monticello Avenue and Greensprings Plantation Drive, where the fire department responded to a call for two gunshot victims. A third passenger in the backseat of the car was not hurt.
The victim and her family is active in the local swim community, and that community is active, now, in helping the family.
“The update from her husband today is that the swelling is going down and she’s recovering well,” said Amy Cory, 757 Swim head coach. “It’s supposed to be a very long road ahead, and we’re not sure when she’ll be out of the hospital, but we’re expecting a recovery and really hoping to support them in this long journey ahead.”
As for Adams, police said he went straight through the intersection, heading for the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry that was heading to Surry County.
“So, he ends up getting onto the ferry, and he ends up sitting there traveling,” Brooks said. “Ultimately, what ends up happening is, he is unconscious in his car, and the staff find him at the ferry, and then the county sheriff’s office takes him into custody.”
What has happened after the shooting, and the arrest, is also part of the story Monday, as a community has come together to help.
A quick-thinking friend of the teenage son who was shot took a photo of the suspect’s red Toyota, helping point detectives in the right direction.
“We ended up getting a hit off a Flock [camera], and that ended up indicating that he traveled his way to the ferry, ended up on it, and we were able to get confirmation that he was on there,” Brooks said.
James City County Police noted that “the ferry was held at the dock, and once it arrived on the Surry side of the route, … personnel from the Surry County Sheriff’s Office arrived and took Adams into custody without incident.”
But that is only part of the story.
The family members of the local 757Swim community are banding together along with other similar swim teams across the region.
Cory was emotional in describing what her friends are going through, but said a great part of the story is how the community has come together.
“They wanted to provide meals, monetary support, gift cards, those types of things,” Cory said. “We have some swimmers from the high school organizing gift baskets for the mother while she’s in the hospital.”
Shannon Hartig, president of 757Swim’s board of directors, said they just want to help the family in their time of need.
“We had no idea that it would blow up like this on social media,” Hartig said. “This case is the most shared Facebook post we’ve ever had. Just the outpouring of support from the community has been incredible, and we’re just really grateful that we can help such a wonderful family.”
Said Brooks: “We have to be vigilant, and make sure that we’re not engaging with these people. You never know what that person is capable of or what their mental state is. You know you can have these senseless outbursts of violence. So, if you are traveling, stay calm, don’t engage, don’t look at them, don’t make gestures, don’t yell out your window. Just contact police.”
There has been a meal train established to help the family. For more information, go to https://mealtrain.com/wm9141 .
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