A 61-year-old southern Stafford resident is dead after a shooting Friday night, the county Sheriff’s Office said.
About 6:35 p.m., deputies responded to the Stratford Place subdivision, where an off-duty federal law enforcement officer had confronted a motorcyclist who had been driving recklessly through the area on a blue-and-white off-road motorcycle, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
The motorcyclist left the area but returned a short time later with family members. That group was in a white Lincoln, and deputies stopped them near the intersection of North Jenny Lynn Road and Cross Cut Lane.
The three family members began causing a disturbance with the deputies and the off-duty federal officer, who was still in the area. Deputies attempted to stop the disturbance, but it turned physical.
During the incident, the 61-year-old, who lived nearby, got involved.
“The federal law enforcement officer’s gun discharged, and the 61-year-old resident was struck in the chest,” the Sheriff’s Office said in the release.
The man was transported to a hospital but died later Friday night.
A deputy was grazed by the bullet during the incident and received minor injuries. None of the deputies involved fired a weapon.
As a result of an investigation, Nicolas Vazquez, 20, Angel Vazquez, 21, and Xavier Vazquez, 46, have each been charged with assault and battery on law enforcement, assault by mob, conspiracy to commit a felony, and obstruction. All three were placed in the Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.
The investigation is ongoing, and the Sheriff’s Office asks witnesses with information or video of the incident or motorcyclist to contact Detective Boyle at 540-658-4400.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the deceased resident,” the news release said.
