A Martinsville man was charged with first-degree murder, according to a report from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office.
Demario Devonte Clark, 27, of Martinsville, also was charged with use of a firearm during the commission of a felony in connection with a Nov. 1 incident.
the Martinsville-Henry County 911 center received a call at 3:43 a.m. that day about an incident at 73 Rose Lane, Martinsville. According to the caller, an individual had been shot.
Deputies responding to Rose Lane were unable to locate anyone who had been shot, and determined the victim had been placed into a vehicle and transported to the emergency room at SOVAH Health Martinsville.
The shooting victim was identified as Jayland Jovan Sandoval Gonzalez, 23, of Martinsville. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Authorities learned Gonzalez was attending a large party at 73 Rose Lane. Witnesses reported an argument ensued between Gonzalez and another man. During an alleged ensuing altercation, Gonzalez was shot. The alleged shooter fled the scene.
Gonzalez suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his torso. He was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the Western District of Virginia, where an autopsy will be performed.
Clark is currently held in the Henry County Jail without bond.
The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to contact the Henry County Sheriff’s Office at 276-638-8751 or Crimestoppers at 63-CRIME (632-7463). The Crimestoppers Program offers rewards up to $2,500 for information related to crime. The nature of the crime and the substance of the information determine the amount of reward paid.
