
STUART – Five people were arrested for the fatal shooting of a Martinsville man in a church parking lot on Sunday night.
At approximately 8 p.m., deputies responded to True Gospel Baptist Church located on Salem Highway in Stuart. The church was not in service.
Evidence suggests that Acya Danelle Hagen, 19, and Damien Lamont Hairston, 27, had set up a drug deal with Lonnie Deandre Reynolds, 18, Jermaine “Jay” Davis Penn Jr., 18, and Stephen Coby Gravely, 20.
Hagen, Hairston and a juvenile, 17, developed a plan to rob the individuals when they arrived at the church, according to Patrick County Sheriff Dan Smith.
When the two groups met, the first shot was allegedly fired from the rear passenger seat of the vehicle where Reynolds and Penn were seated.
Sheriff Smith said more gunfire was then exchanged, leaving Hairston dead of a single gunshot wound.
Reynolds, Penn and Gravely fled the scene in a red Honda Civic, which was recovered a few hours later in Henry County, the sheriff stated.
Reynolds of Patrick County was arrested on Monday morning and charged with second degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, discharging a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school and reckless handling of a firearm.
Penn of Woolwine turned himself in on Tuesday morning and was charged with second degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, shooting within 1,000 feet of a school, and shooting from a motor vehicle as to endanger the lives of others.
Hagen of Stuart was arrested Tuesday afternoon on charges of robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, possession with intent to distribute more than half an ounce of marijuana and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Gravely, of Martinsville, has been charged with possession with intent to distribute more than half an ounce of marijuana.
The juvenile has been charged with conspiracy to distribute more than half an ounce of marijuana and conspiracy to commit robbery. State law prohibits releasing the names of juvenile offenders.
Reynolds, Penn and Hagen are being held in the Patrick County Jail without bail.
Gravely was released on a $1,500 secured bond and the juvenile is being held at the W.W. Moore Detention Center in Danville.
The Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Martinsville Police Department, Virginia State Police and the Patrick County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office assisted in the investigation.
“As is typically the case, area law enforcement agencies worked closely together to solve this crime and prevent further acts of violence, which will not be tolerated in our county,” smith stated in a news release.
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