Gun Deal Turns Deadly in Spotsylvania: Three Young Men Killed, Four Teens Charged in Violent Robbery
SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, VA — What should have been a quick, illegal gun transaction ended in one of the deadliest acts of violence the county has seen in years. In a matter of seconds, a robbery attempt erupted into a hail of gunfire, leaving three young men dead and several others injured. Authorities say the incident unfolded Tuesday evening, April 8, 2025, outside a residential complex on Olde Greenwich Circle.
Among the dead are 18-year-old Chase Feaster, 18-year-old Alonzo Goffney, and a 20-year-old man whose name has not yet been released. The three were fatally shot at the scene during what investigators have determined was a pre-arranged meeting for a gun sale that turned into a planned robbery.
Now, four suspects—two 16-year-old boys, a 17-year-old, and 18-year-old Jeremiah Upson—are facing serious charges. Three are currently held without bond. One of the 16-year-olds remains hospitalized due to a gunshot wound he sustained during the shootout but will be taken into custody upon release.
A Chaotic and Violent Scene
Deputies with the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office responded around 5:30 p.m. to multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire in the quiet complex. What they found was devastating—three young men lying mortally wounded and others scrambling for help.
The scene was littered with shell casings. Bullet holes scarred nearby buildings and vehicles. Witnesses reported hearing upwards of 15 gunshots in rapid succession. A local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “It sounded like a war zone. We hit the floor. My kids were playing right outside minutes before it happened.”
Law enforcement officials say the meeting had been planned to exchange a firearm. But it quickly escalated into a robbery, then into chaos. When shots rang out, it’s still unclear who fired first, but the result was fatal for three young men with their lives still ahead of them.
Charges and Arrests
As of April 9, all four suspects have been formally charged with malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Additional charges, including capital murder, may follow as the investigation continues.
Jeremiah Upson, 18, is the only adult suspect named publicly. He, along with the two juveniles who have already been detained, are being held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail. The fourth suspect, still hospitalized, is under police supervision.
A Community in Shock
The triple homicide has deeply rattled Spotsylvania County. Parents, students, and neighbors have been left shaken by the sheer violence of the event. Many are still struggling to understand how a simple gun exchange turned into a fatal ambush.
In response to the incident, both Fredericksburg City Public Schools and Spotsylvania County Public Schools delayed classes by two hours on Wednesday to give staff time to offer support services to grieving students. Mental health counselors have been deployed to affected schools, and law enforcement presence was increased across campuses as a precaution.
One teacher from Spotsylvania High School shared, “Many of us knew at least one of these young men. They weren’t just names on a headline. They were in our classrooms not long ago.”
The Aftermath: More Than Just Names
As the community processes this loss, families are beginning to plan funerals for young lives lost far too soon. Chase Feaster and Alonzo Goffney, both just 18, had dreams they’ll never realize—college, careers, maybe families of their own. The 20-year-old victim, whose identity remains undisclosed pending family notification, also had his life cut tragically short.
Candles now flicker near the scene of the shooting, placed by grieving friends and classmates. Handwritten notes and flowers mark the spot where the lives of three young men ended, a somber reminder of the cost of gun violence and the fragile nature of life.
Ongoing Investigation
The Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information or video evidence to come forward. Investigators believe there may be additional witnesses or bystanders who fled the scene before law enforcement arrived.
“We will not rest until justice is served for these young men and their families,” Sheriff Roger Harris said in a public statement. “This level of violence has no place in our community.”
Tips can be submitted anonymously through Spotsylvania Crime Solvers at 1-800-928-5822.
What happened on that quiet Tuesday evening in Spotsylvania is more than a tragic footnote—it’s a chilling reminder of the consequences of guns in the wrong hands, and of youth caught in a cycle of violence that ends too often with flashing lights and grieving families.