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16-year-old boy arrested in Nelson County now faces murder charge after deadly home invasion

82-year-old man died, 73-year-old woman hospitalized

NELSON COUNTY, Va. – A 16-year-old boy faces four charges after shooting two people, killing one of them and stealing their car during an alleged home invasion in Louisa County.

At 1:40 p.m. Tuesday, the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported shooting on Spotswood Trail in Gordonsville, Virginia.

Officers arrived and found that both Nancy Payne, 73, and Roger Wood Payne Jr., 82, had been shot.

Mr. Payne was declared dead at the scene, while Mrs. Payne was taken to the hospital and has since undergone surgery, with more surgery expected.

The Payne’s vehicle was missing from the scene of the shooting. Authorities later found it in Nelson County, along with a 16-year-old boy.

Authorities took the boy into custody and have charged him with first-degree murder, aggravated malicious wounding, armed robbery and breaking and entering to commit murder and robbery.


Original story posted Nov. 13, 2019, at 5:57 a.m.

A murder suspect was caught and arrested in Nelson County after a home invasion that left an elderly man dead and his wife recovering from gunshot wounds.

It started Monday morning when authorities say someone showed up to a home in Louisa County and shot an elderly couple before stealing their car.

Authorities say the man was killed and his wife had to be airlifted to the hospital. She’s expected to recover.

According to the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office, deputies tracked down the stolen car Tuesday on the Thomas Nelson Highway in Lovingston and found the suspect. He was returned to the custody of the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office.

“That person didn’t have to die. If you needed something out of the place, he should’ve just taken what he needed to and just let them be,” said Det. Chuck Love with the Louisa Sherrif’s Office.

Investigators have not identified who the suspect arrested is or his connection to the victims.