Fredericksburg Murder Suspect Arrested After FaceTime Call: Police

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — A man was killed in a shooting at a Fredericksburg hotel Sunday morning, and the fleeing suspect rebuked attempts from police over a FaceTime call to get him to surrender for several hours, according to the Office of the Stafford County Sheriff.

George Pearson III, 44, fled the Red Roof Inn on Warrenton Road shortly after shooting a man around 8:15 a.m., and authorities arrested him on an Interstate 95 exit ramp in Hanover County around 11:30 a.m., police said.

Pearson is being charged with second degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was brought back to Stafford County and is being held without bond in Rappahannock Regional Jail, according to police.

Minutes after the shooting, police found a man with a gunshot wound to the chest at the Red Roof Inn. The man was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries. Authorities are not releasing the victim's name until next of kin is notified.

Pearson fled in a silver Toyota Tacoma, and authorities contacted him through FaceTime after learning his identity. He initially refused to surrender peacefully and told the crisis management team he would not be taken alive. He eventually stopped on the exit ramp and allowed officers from Hanover County and Virginia State Police to arrest him, according to police.

Following Pearson's arrest, police recovered a handgun from his truck. Authorities do not believe the shooting was a random act of violence.