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Va. teen charged with killing mother, 6-year-old brother is captured in North Carolina Va. teen charged with killing mother, 6-year-old brother is captured in North Carolina
(about 1 hour later)
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. 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.
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. Levi H. Norwood, a junior at Liberty High School, was apprehended by police after allegedly shoplifting about 5 p.m., authorities said. Fauquier sheriff’s deputies were headed to North Carolina Saturday night in hopes of interviewing Norwood.
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 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. Levi Norwood then shot and wounded his father, who escaped and called for help, officials said. The father was hospitalized and listed in stable condition Saturday, Sheriff Robert P. Mosier 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 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.
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.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. Then at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, a Fauquier resident reported his red 2007 Toyota Camry had been stolen overnight, 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. 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, Hartman 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. 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.
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 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. 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.
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. Court records show Joshua Norwood had 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.
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. Jennifer Norwood’s Facebook page features photos of her sons fishing, pictures of the American flag and news about school fundraisers.
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. Two friends said Levi Norwood had a girlfriend. Hartman said the girlfriend had been located and interviewed and was not with Norwood.
Adam Moore, 17, 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. His family had only recently moved to the house where the violence occured, Moore said.
Roberto Hernandez, 17, said he met Levi when they were both 8 years old. He described him as a “nice kid” who was “friendly to everyone” in elementary school. But by middle school, Levi seemed angry, quiet and withdrawn.
Roberto said that changed when high school rolled around, and Levi found a group of friends. He was happier and less angry. Last year Levi began dating a girl at their school, Roberto said.
But this week, Hernandez said, after dyeing his hair purple, Levi seemed on edge.
“One of my friends touched his hair the other day — not, like, to bully him, but just because it was all purple and freshly dyed — and Levi got up and said, ‘If you touch my hair again, I will dislocate your jaw,’ ” Roberto said.
When he heard the news about the Norwood family, Roberto said, he didn’t think it was real.
“When I heard [a news report] say ‘purple hair’ though,” he said, “I just thought, ‘oh crap, that’s him.’”
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