Deadly Campbell County shooting may be self-defense

9:27 p.m.

By Dave Thompson and Matt Busse
Lynchburg News and Advance

A Gladys man was fatally shot early Wednesday morning, and a preliminary investigation showed the trigger was pulled in self-defense, said authorities.

Capt. Cindy Caldwell, of the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office, identified the victim as Alfred Dews Jr., 35.

Authorities expect to present their findings to the county commonwealth’s attorney today, Caldwell said.

The commonwealth’s attorney will decide whether to bring charges.

Authorities found Dews after responding to a call on Mohawk Road in the Long Island area, received at 4:48 a.m., Caldwell said.

Authorities are not releasing the shooter’s name because of the ongoing investigation, and due to the fact that the shooter is a victim of domestic violence, Caldwell said.

Dews’ father, Alfred Dews Sr., of Gladys, said his son’s girlfriend is the one who pulled the trigger, adding that he was mystified by the whole situation.

“I know everything was alright when he left last night,” Dews said.

“He came in the house and told me he was going down there for a little while,” he said.

Dews Jr. was convicted of assault and battery of a family or household member in 2003.

Caldwell said there had been an emergency protective order issued between Dews Jr. and his shooter in May of 2008, but it had not been renewed.

Dews Sr. said he has a younger son in Rustburg and a daughter in Washington, D.C.

“Everybody’s handling it pretty good right now,” he said.

Dews Sr. said his wife died three years ago, and due to a disability, his oldest son sometimes helped him out.

“He stayed home last week to take care of me,” he said.

“I don’t know what provoked him or what provoked (his girlfriend) either,” Dews Sr. said.

Caldwell said late Wednesday afternoon that the sheriff’s office had not been able to consult with the commonwealth’s attorney because Dews’ body was still at the medical examiner’s office in Roanoke.

“A lot is going to depend on what happens at the autopsy today,” she said Wednesday evening.

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4:19 p.m.

By Dave Thompson and Matt Busse
Lynchburg News and Advance

A Gladys man was fatally shot early Wednesday morning, and a preliminary investigation showed the trigger was pulled in self-defense.

Capt. Cindy Caldwell, of the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office, identified the victim as Alfred Dews Jr., 35.

Authorities expect to present their findings to the county commonwealth’s attorney today or tomorrow, Caldwell said.

The commonwealth’s attorney will decide whether to bring charges.

Authorities found Dews after responding to a call from a Long Island residence received at 4:48 a.m., Caldwell said.

Authorities are not releasing the shooter’s name because of the ongoing investigation.

Caldwell did not release the name of the shooter, because she said the shooter is a victim of domestic violence.

Dews’ father, Alfred Dews Sr., of Gladys, said his son’s girlfriend is the one who pulled the trigger, adding that he was mystified by the whole situation.

“I know everything was alright when he left last night,” Dews said.

“He came in the house and told me he was going down there for a little while,” he said.

Dews said his family, including a younger son and a daughter, is upset, but is working through the situation.

“Everybody’s handling it pretty good right now,” he said.

Dews said his wife passed away three years ago, and due to a disability, his oldest son sometimes helped him out.

“He stayed home last week to take care of me,” he said.

“I don’t know what provoked him or what provoked (his girlfriend) either,” Dews said.

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11:31 a.m.

From the Campbell Co. Sheriff’s Office:

A Gladys man was fatally shot early this morning, authorities said.

A preliminary investigation shows that Alfred Dews Jr., 35, was shot in self-defense, said Capt. Cindy Caldwell of the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office.

However, authorities expect to present their findings to the county commonwealth’s attorney today or tomorrow, Caldwell said.

The commonwealth’s attorney will decide whether to bring charges.

Authorities found Dews after responding to a call from a Long Island residence received at 4:48 a.m., Caldwell said.

Authorities are not releasing the shooter’s name because of the ongoing investigation.

As of 11:15 a.m., investigators were still on the scene, Caldwell said