2 Parents Dead, 2 Children Hurt After Domestic-Related Shooting, Crash In Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Two people died and two young children were injured Wednesday evening after a domestic-related shooting and crash in Fredericksburg, according to authorities.

Fredericksburg police said officers responded around 5:30 p.m. to investigate reports of shots fired in connection with a domestic incident.

The initial investigation found that a man driving one vehicle was pursuing a woman driving another vehicle along Olde William Street and Emancipation Highway, according to police. During the pursuit, police said, the man fired several rounds at the woman’s vehicle.

The woman tried to get away but crashed near College Avenue and Emancipation Highway, police said. Officers arrived at the crash scene and provided emergency aid. The woman was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Two children, ages 7 and 3, were in the woman’s vehicle at the time of the crash. Police said they sustained minor injuries from the crash and were not struck by gunfire.

As officers arrived at the crash scene, they saw the suspect’s vehicle attempting to flee, according to police. Officers tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver did not yield, and police began a pursuit.

As the pursuit approached Wilderness Lane, police said, the driver suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. He was the only person in the vehicle.

No shots were fired by police, authorities said.

The two people who died were the parents of the children found in the first vehicle. The children are being reunited with family, according to the department.

There are no outstanding suspects, police said. Investigators were expected to continue collecting evidence Wednesday evening at multiple crime scenes.

Police said no additional details would be released.