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Teen sought in slaying of mother, 6-year-old brother in Virginia Va. teen charged with killing mother, 6-year-old brother is captured in North Carolina
(about 2 hours later)
A Fauquier County woman and her six-year-old son were shot to death in their home Friday evening, and authorities Saturday were searching for the woman’s 17-year-old son, who was charged with two counts of murder and who may have fled the area in a stolen car. A 17-year-old Virginia teen was captured in North Carolina Saturday evening and charged with two counts of murder for the shooting deaths of his mother and six-year-old brother inside their Fauquier County home Friday evening.
The victims were identified as Jennifer Norwood, 34, and her son Wyatt. The Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office was leading an intensive manhunt for Levi H. Norwood and said they considered him armed and dangerous. Fauquier Sheriff Robert P. Mosier said Saturday afternoon that it appeared Norwood had stolen a car about 10 miles from the home, and police were searching for a red 2007 Toyota Camry with the license plate WNG 7739. Authorities said Levi H. Norwood, a junior at Liberty High School, was apprehended by police after allegedly shoplifting about 5 p.m. Fauquier sheriff’s deputies were headed to North Carolina Saturday night in hopes of interviewing Norwood.
The car was reported stolen at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, but could have been taken hours before that, Fauquier spokesman Sgt. James Hartman said. Later Saturday, authorities said they had learned that Levi Norwood may have planned to leave the state. Mosier said bloodhounds had tracked Norwood’s scent to the area of the stolen car, leading them to believe the teen stole the Camry. The victims were identified as Jennifer L. Norwood, 34, and her son Wyatt. The Fauquier sheriff’s office said Norwood’s husband, Joshua H. Norwood, came home shortly after 6 p.m. Friday to find his wife and younger son dead of gunshot wounds. Officials said Levi Norwood then shot and wounded his father, who escaped and called for help. The father was hospitalized and listed in stable condition Saturday, Sheriff Robert P. Mosier said.
The sheriff’s office said Norwood’s father, Joshua Norwood, came home shortly after 6 p.m. Friday to find his wife and younger son dead of gunshot wounds. Officials said Levi Norwood then shot and wounded his father, who escaped and called for help. The father was hospitalized and listed in stable condition Saturday, the sheriff said. Sheriff’s deputies surrounded the home in the 12800 block of Elk Run Road, just east of Route 17, believing that Levi Norwood had barricaded himself inside. But when deputies entered the home about 10:15 p.m., the teenager was gone, the sheriff’s office said. Officials said he had not taken the family car.
Sheriff’s deputies surrounded the home in the 12800 block of Elk Run Road, just east of Route 17, believing that Norwood had barricaded himself inside. But when deputies entered the home about 10:15 p.m., Norwood was gone, the sheriff’s office said. Officials said he had not taken the family car. Fauquier mobilized a massive manhunt, using drones, a helicopter, bloodhounds and officers from a number of surrounding agencies, advising residents to shelter in place. But Norwood didn’t turn up.
Then at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, a Fauquier resident reported his red 2007 Toyota Camry had been stolen, from a neighborhood about 10 miles from the Norwood home. Mosier said bloodhounds tracking Norwood indicated he had been in the area, and a lookout was broadcast for the Camry. But the car had been gone for hours, and investigators soon learned that Norwood had spoken to friends about possibly leaving the state.
By 5 p.m., he had been found. Employees at an unidentified business called police on a reported shoplifter. Hartman declined to identify the location of the arrest until Fauquier detectives had a chance to speak with the teen. The stolen Camry was found in the parking lot, Mosier said.
The sheriff’s office said Saturday that they had not determined what type of weapon was used in the double homicide nor what Norwood’s motive was. Guns were stored in the home but it had not been determined if any of those guns were used or missing, Mosier said.The sheriff’s office said Saturday that they had not determined what type of weapon was used in the double homicide nor what Norwood’s motive was. Guns were stored in the home but it had not been determined if any of those guns were used or missing, Mosier said.
The shootings happened in the unincorporated area of Midland, Va., about 54 miles southwest of Washington. Fauquier County has a population of about 70,000, and has experienced between zero and four homicides per year in recent years, state crime statistics show.The shootings happened in the unincorporated area of Midland, Va., about 54 miles southwest of Washington. Fauquier County has a population of about 70,000, and has experienced between zero and four homicides per year in recent years, state crime statistics show.
Wyatt Norwood attended Mary Walter Elementary School, where police set up a command post and briefed the media beginning Friday night. Levi Norwood attends Liberty High School in Bealeton. A district wrestling tournament being held at the school was cancelled Saturday afternoon, and all activities in the schools were cancelled until school reopens on Tuesday, Fauquier schools Superintendent David Jeck said. Wyatt Norwood was a first-grader at Mary Walter Elementary School, where police set up a command post and briefed the media beginning Friday night. Levi Norwood attends Liberty High School in Bealeton. A district wrestling tournament being held at the school was cancelled Saturday afternoon, and all activities in the schools were cancelled until school reopens on Tuesday, Fauquier schools Superintendent David Jeck said.
Jeck said counselors were being prepared at the county’s schools to help students and staff. “This kind of tragedy is obviously not something that Fauquier County is accustomed to,” Jeck said. “It’s a really really horrible situation.”Jeck said counselors were being prepared at the county’s schools to help students and staff. “This kind of tragedy is obviously not something that Fauquier County is accustomed to,” Jeck said. “It’s a really really horrible situation.”
Jeck and Mosier said they did not know if Levi Norwood had any prior reported behavioral or health problems. The sheriff did not have information on whether deputies had previously been dispatched to the Norwood home. Hartman did not have information on the professions of the parents. Court records show Joshua Norwood worked as a sales representative and Jennifer Norwood was a licensed nurse’s assistant. Jeck and Mosier said they did not know if Levi Norwood had any prior reported behavioral or health problems. The sheriff did not have information on whether deputies had previously been dispatched to the Norwood home. Hartman did not have information on the professions of the parents. Court records show Joshua Norwood worked as a sales representative for a company in Manassas, which said he no longer worked there, and Jennifer Norwood was a licensed nurse’s assistant, but records show her license had expired.
Two friends said Levi Norwood had a girlfriend, and authorities did not know if the relationship was related to the shooting. Hartman said the girlfriend had been located and interviewed and was not with Norwood.
Adam Moore, a classmate of Norwood’s since eighth grade, said he saw Norwood in school on Friday morning, and “he definitely didn’t seem sad or anything.” He said Norwood enjoyed hunting, fishing and country music, and was not involved in any extracurricular activities at Liberty High, where he is a junior.
The Camry was stolen from a residence on Rogues Road near C.M. Crockett Park. Because the theft was not discovered until 7:30 a.m., deputies did not know when Norwood might have reached the area, whether he had any assistance or how long he had been gone, Hartman said. Prior to the report, “we’d conducted quite an extensive search, with drones, helicopters, a K-9 team,” Hartman said, but there was no sign of the teen. Police agencies from across Northern Virginia and the FBI are assisting Fauquier deputies, Hartman said.The Camry was stolen from a residence on Rogues Road near C.M. Crockett Park. Because the theft was not discovered until 7:30 a.m., deputies did not know when Norwood might have reached the area, whether he had any assistance or how long he had been gone, Hartman said. Prior to the report, “we’d conducted quite an extensive search, with drones, helicopters, a K-9 team,” Hartman said, but there was no sign of the teen. Police agencies from across Northern Virginia and the FBI are assisting Fauquier deputies, Hartman said.
Norwood is described as a white male, 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 125 pounds, with recently dyed short purple hair. It was not known what he was wearing. Anyone with information about Norwood’s whereabouts is asked to call the Fauquier sheriff’s office at 540-347-3300.
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