LYNCHBURG, Va. (BTW21) – A jury has returned a guilty verdict in the high-profile murder trial of Caleb Spinner, who was charged in the July 2022 shooting death of Trevor Weeks at a Dollar General on Boonsboro Road in Lynchburg.
Following a three-day trial, the jury deliberated for about three and a half hours before convicting Spinner of voluntary manslaughter and two firearms-related offenses.
Prosecution Sought Second-Degree Murder Conviction
Commonwealth’s Attorney Bethany Harrison expressed disappointment with the verdict, stating that the prosecution believed the evidence supported a second-degree murder charge. Harrison emphasized the brutality of the shooting, noting that Weeks was shot six times, even as he was falling to the ground—a pattern she described as “overkill.”
“We are disappointed. We believe this was a second-degree murder case,” Harrison said after the verdict. “The family is certainly disappointed as well… but we stand by the jury’s verdict. At sentencing, we believe the victims will have something to say to round out the picture of who Trevor Weeks was.”
Defense Highlights Absence of Malice
Brad Lindsay, Deputy Public Defender for the City of Lynchburg, represented Spinner and acknowledged the tragedy of the case while pointing out a crucial detail in the jury’s decision.
“There really is no winner in this case; it is tragic all around,” Lindsay said. “What is very important about the jury’s verdict today is that they found that Mr. Spinner did not act with malice that day.”
The absence of malice was a key legal distinction that led to the voluntary manslaughter conviction rather than a murder charge.
Sentencing Set for July
The emotional trial drew attention from both the legal community and local residents. Spinner’s sentencing is scheduled for July, at which time Weeks’ family and other involved parties will have the opportunity to make impact statements before the court.
As Lynchburg continues to process the outcome, the tragic events at the Dollar General remain a stark reminder of the lives affected by gun violence.
