Brawl Erupts in Lynchburg as Gunfire Rings Out
A chaotic scene unfolded in downtown Lynchburg, Virginia, when a witness flagged down law enforcement officers after seeing a man fall out of a moving vehicle and shoot a firearm in its direction. The incident, which occurred on Fifth Street on May 5, 2022, ultimately led to the arrest of Brandon Cole Webber, 27, on a federal criminal complaint charging him with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Webber was seen running toward the Family Dollar on Federal Street after the shooting. Two other individuals who witnessed the incident offered Webber a ride, but he attempted to enter their vehicle as law enforcement arrived on the scene. Police officers searched the vehicle and found a loaded 9 mm handgun, a white bag containing suspected methamphetamine, and a wallet belonging to an unidentified individual in the back seat where Webber had been sitting.
The investigation into Webber’s activities revealed that he was involved in several other incidents, including a November 29, 2023, overdose at the Lynchburg Grand Hotel. First responders observed needles and a glass pipe in the room where Webber was found, and when Lynchburg Police arrived, he fled the scene. Later that evening, officers searched room 627 and recovered a bag containing suspected methamphetamine and a loaded Glock 38 handgun.
On November 30, 2023, Webber was charged with violating various state firearm statutes, but after receiving treatment for his overdose, law enforcement was unable to locate him. It is believed that Webber fled Lynchburg with the help of Subject-1, a former City of Lynchburg Community Corrections and Pretrial Services Agency Officer, with whom he had begun a romantic relationship in August 2023.
Subject-1 allegedly provided Webber with non-public sensitive information, including using their credentials to view a search warrant executed at the Lynchburg Grand Hotel on November 29, 2023, on five separate occasions in December 2023. United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the City of Lynchburg Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Vito Iaia is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Webber’s arrest is a significant development in the ongoing investigation into his activities. The case highlights the importance of community vigilance and the role of law enforcement in keeping our communities safe.
Related Federal Cases
- Herbert D. Zeno, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Vancouver WA, 2013 · Washington
- Herbert D. Zeno, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Vancouver WA, 2023 · Washington
- Raymone “Ramone” Clements, Felon in Possession of Firearm, Clevelan… · Virginia
- Charles General, Possession of Stolen Firearm, D.C., 2023 · Virginia
- Charles E. General, Illegal Possession of Stolen Firearm, Washingto… · Alabama
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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