HENRY COUNTY, VA – An Axton man has been charged with first-degree murder after a Martinsville man who had been hospitalized for nearly a month after being shot died on Monday.
This all stemmed from a shooting that occurred on February 18 at around 1:05 a.m. at 964 Southland Drive in Martinsville.
The Henry County Sheriff’s Office says responding deputies found 42-year-old Ray E. Durfinger Jr. at the scene who had been shot in his abdomen.
Durfinger was transported to SOVAH Health in Martinsville and then airlifted to a North Carolina hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.
He had remained hospitalized since the shooting occurred.
The investigation shows that 23-year-old Jacob Raleigh Robertson was at Durflinger's home when an argument started outside near the road, Robertson pulled out a gun and shot Durflinger one time.
Robertson fled the scene and was then taken into custody during a traffic stop.
He was initially charged with aggravated malicious wounding and use of firearm in commission of felony and was released on bond.
Durflinger succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at Baptist Hospital in North Carolina Monday, according to the sheriff's office.
As a result, Robertson has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and use of firearm in commission of felony.
He is currently held in the Henry County Jail with no bond.
This investigation is ongoing.
If you have information regarding this incident, call the Henry County Sheriff’s Office at 276-638-8751 or Crimestoppers program at 276-632-7463.