A Henry County man has been charged with two counts of attempted murder after a Monday morning domestic disturbance, according to Patrick County Sheriff Dan Smith.
Dustin Lee Lawson, 23, of 504 Trent Store Lane, is charged with two counts of attempted first degree murder, two counts of shooting into an occupied vehicle, two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, malicious wounding, felony child endangerment, wearing body armor while committing a violent offense, and carrying a concealed weapon.
Smith stated that the incident was called into the sheriff’s office 911 center at 2:24 AM. A female caller indicated that a male subject had shot into a vehicle at the Trent Store Lane residence. Senior Deputies Matt Hodges, Andrew Kinney and Robbie Haynes all responded to the scene. The deputies allegedly encountered Lawson in front of the residence wearing body armor. Lawson surrendered when confronted by the deputies.
Deputies determined through the course of the investigation that Lawson’s girlfriend was trying to leave with her 5 year old child. Lawson allegedly fired multiple rounds into her vehicle from both a rifle and a handgun in an attempt to keep them from leaving. The adult female sustained a gunshot wound to the head and the child was uninjured.
The female was airlifted to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem with non-life threatening injuries.
Multiple firearms were seized following the execution of a search warrant at the residence. PCSO Lieutenant Steve Austin and Investigator Linda Martin are leading the investigation. Special Agent Matt Wade with the Virginia State Police processed the crime scene.
Lawson is being held without bond in the Patrick County Jail.