A Bassett man died from a gunshot wound and the alleged shooter is being held in the Henry County Adult Detention Center with no bond, according to a release from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office.
Jahari Keontae Pritchett was taken into custody Wednesday on charges in connection with a shooting incident Tuesday that resulted in the death of Deshawn Marquis Ross.
Around 6:50 p.m. on February 14, a 911 caller reported a gunshot wound at Northview Garden Apartments, located at 755 Stultz Road, Martinsville, according to a release.
When Henry County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at the scene, they found a young man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The man was located inside one of the apartments at the complex.
Henry County Public Safety EMS arrived and began treatment. Ross, 22, of Bassett, died at the scene, according to the release.
“All we can definitively say at this time is the victim had suffered at least one gunshot wound to the torso,” Henry County Sheriff’s Capt. Wayne Davis said.
His body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the Western District of Virginia, where an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause and manner of death.
As the investigation developed, authorities learned that an argument had ensued between Ross and another man, identified as Pritchett. A firearm allegedly was produced during the argument and Ross was fatally wounded before the shooter allegedly fled the scene.
Pritchett, 22, of Martinsville, was taken into custody without incident in the Axton area. He is charged with first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm after having been convicted of a felony.
Anyone with information about the incident or Pritchett’s whereabouts 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.
