An Ararat man was charged in connection with an alleged shooting incident, according to Patrick County Sheriff Dan Smith.
Sammy Wayne Smith, 48, of 217 Triple Smith Lane, was charged with shooting into an occupied vehicle, brandishing a firearm, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, the sheriff said in a release.
The incident began to unfold shortly after midnight on Tuesday, Nov. 9, when a man reported hearing someone drive by his home in the Dry Pond area of the county and fire several shots.
The sheriff said the man got into his car, caught up to a vehicle he thought the shots came from, and started to follow it.
The vehicle turned onto Ararat Highway, just off Virginia 103, according to the sheriff, who added the vehicle then slowed down.
Then, multiple shots allegedly were fired at the man’s vehicle, according to the sheriff, who added the man’s car was struck by gunfire. Fortunately, the man was not injured, authorities said.
The sheriff said the man knew and was able to identify the alleged shooter.
The Patrick County Sheriff’s tactical response team executed a search warrant on the home of the alleged shooter later that morning, around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, the sheriff said, adding a suspect was taken into custody at the scene.
The sheriff alleged that Sammy Smith was in possession of a 9mm handgun at the time of the arrest and that 9mm shell casings were collected at the scene of the shooting.
Anyone with information regarding the alleged shooting incident is urged to contact Investigator Linda Martin at 276-694-3161 or Sheriff Dan Smith at 276-692-7012.
Sammy Smith is being held without bail in the Patrick County Jail.
