Charlottesville resident Dominic Morris, accused of shooting an Albemarle County man Sunday morning, turned himself in to city police Tuesday after a two-day hideout in a motel just south of Richmond.
Police charged Morris with malicious wounding and the use of a firearm in a threatening manner after a Sunday morning confrontation with Albemarle County resident Bernard Williams. Police said the pair, who had been acquaintances for some time, started to argue outside the Cherry Avenue GoCo Food Mart.
The argument escalated at about 11:30 a.m., when Williams got into his Ford Windstar van. At that point, Morris pulled out a .45 semiautomatic pistol and shot at Williams, hitting him numerous times, Charlottesville Police Det. Randy Higgins said.
A passenger in the backseat of Williams' van pulled out a gun and fired back at Morris, Higgins said. Morris received two gunshot wounds. One bullet lodged itself into Morris's shoulder, while another bullet passed through his foot.
Police said Morris fled the scene, throwing his gun out his car window as he headed south down Route 20 toward Petersburg, where he stayed in a motel for two days. Too scared to seek medical help, police said he dislodged the bullet from his shoulder by himself.
Morris was encouraged to turn himself in Tuesday by his family and friends, he told police.
Police said they believe they know the identity of the backseat shooter and the type of weapon.
University of Virginia Medical Center officials said Williams was admitted to the hospital emergency room at 12:20 p.m. Sunday in critical condition. Yesterday his condition was listed as serious.
Morris is being held without bond at the Charlottesville-Albemarle Joint Security Complex.
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