A Virginia man faces criminal charges after allegedly shooting his sons’ mother’s fiancé and his friend — all in front of his two children, authorities say.
Jordan Daniel Pierce, 45, of Salem, was arrested on Sunday, March 2, and charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of use of a firearm in commission of felony, according to online court records.
Just before 5:15 p.m. that day, Vinton Police Officers responded to a disturbance in the rear parking lot of the Town of Vinton Municipal Building — where the police department is located — and found two men suffering from gunshot wounds, the Vinton Police Department said in a release.
The victims, identified as Jeffrey Alan Catron, 31, and Brian Christian Sledd, 29, both of Bedford County, were pronounced dead at the scene.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by WDBJ 7 and WFXR and 10 News, Pierce was dropping off his three sons with the children’s mother in the parking lot of the municipal building, deemed a safe exchange zone.
Shortly after, Pierce allegedly fired about 13 rounds, shooting Catron and Sledd, the complaint alleges.
Catron was the mother’s fiancé and Sledd was an acquaintance, according to the complaint.
It is unclear what led up to the alleged shooting.
Pierce shot the two men in front of his children, their mother and two firefighters, according to the complaint.
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Pierce was still in the parking lot when officers arrived. He was taken into custody and is being held without bond at the Roanoke County Jail.
It is unclear whether he has retained an attorney who can speak on his behalf.
He is expected to appear in court on March 10 for a hearing to appoint him an attorney.
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