2 Men Shot In Spotsylvania Store Parking Lot In Possible Hate Crime

SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, VA — Two men were shot in Spotsylvania County Wednesday night in what police are investigating as a possible hate crime.

At about 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Spotsylvania County deputies responded to a reported shooting in the Sheetz parking lot located in the 5000 block of Mudd Tavern Rd. in the Thornburg area.

Two sheriff’s detectives who were in the area arrived and found a 29-year-old man and 45-year-old man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Both detectives administered first aid to the victims until medical personnel arrived, according to the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office.

The two men were taken to an area trauma center with critical injuries. Witnesses and surveillance footage were able to provide detectives with a description of the suspect and vehicle that left the scene.

With the assistance of Caroline County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas Wayne Cornett, 57, of Caroline County was arrested by Caroline County Sheriff’s Office and Spotsylvania detectives on two counts of aggravated malicious wounding and additional firearm violations. Cornett was incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail under no bond.

“A preliminary motive for this violent and unprovoked act appears to be hate/bias related,” the sheriff’s office in a news release Thursday. “Both victims were Hispanic and from Prince William County.”

Additional charges may be forthcoming, according to the sheriff’s office.

“Hate crimes are a stain on our society and have no place in a civilized world,” Sheriff Roger Harris said. “As a society, we must stand united in denouncing and combating hate crimes in all forms.”