Man arrested after 2 wounded in suspected hate-related shooting outside Virginia Sheetz store
THORNBURG, Va. - Authorities say a double shooting outside a Sheetz convenience store in Virginia appears to be hate-related after arresting a man they say pulled the trigger.
Douglas Wayne Cornett, 57, of Caroline County allegedly shot two Hispanic men just before 9:30 p.m. on February 28. The shooting happened in the store’s parking lot in the 5000 block of Mudd Tavern Road in the Thornburg area.
The two victims, a 29-year-old and a 45-year-old, are both from Prince William County and were transported to a nearby trauma center with critical injuries.
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Douglas Wayne Cornett (Spotsylvania County Sheriff)
Witnesses and surveillance footage were used by detectives to locate Cornett who they say fled the scene. He faces two-counts of aggravated malicious wounding and additional firearm violations. He remains behind bars at the Rappahannock Regional Jail.
Officials called it a ‘violent and unprovoked act’ and says the shooting appears to be hate/bias related.
"Hate crimes are a stain on our society and have no place in a civilized world. As a society, we must stand united in denouncing and combating hate crimes in all forms," said Spotsylvania County Sheriff Roger Harris in a press release.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 1-800-928-5822 or 1-540-582-5822.