Claudville, Va. (BTW21) — A Claudville man is in custody following a domestic disturbance that escalated into gunfire on Monday afternoon, according to Patrick County Sheriff Dan Smith.
James Colton Wuchner, 38, of 193 State Line Road, was arrested and charged with:
Maliciously discharging a firearm in an occupied dwelling
Felony child abuse
Authorities say Wuchner allegedly fired a shot inside the home while his girlfriend and her six-year-old son were present.
At 12:53 p.m., the Patrick County 911 Communication Center received a frantic call from the woman, reporting that her boyfriend had just fired a weapon inside their residence.
Deputies responded immediately, with Senior Deputy Dustin Dillon being the first on scene. He successfully took Wuchner into custody without incident.
“A young child was inside the home when the shot was fired. This situation could have ended in tragedy,” said Sheriff Smith. “We are grateful for the swift response of our deputies and the actions that prevented further harm.”
Following the arrest, deputies executed a search warrant for the residence. They recovered:
A firearm
Ammunition
Illegal narcotics
Evidence of a pass-through bullet hole, confirming a shot had been fired inside the home
The investigation is being led by Investigator Tennille Jessup, in coordination with the Patrick County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and the Patrick County Department of Social Services.
No injuries were reported. Wuchner remains in custody pending further legal proceedings.
The case remains under active investigation.
