Investigator: Altavista shooting victim will likely survive

By Chris Dumond
Media General News Service
Published: November 10, 2008

A man who nearly bled to death after he was shot Saturday night will likely survive his injuries, a Campbell County Sheriff’s Office investigator said Sunday.

The victim, who is being identified only as a man in his late 20s, was shot three times with a 9mm handgun near the vacant Boley’s Store on Dearing Ford Road north of Altavista, said Investigator Tracy Emerson. The shooting happened around 7:45 p.m.

Emerson said the victim was shot in the right ankle, forearm and upper left leg. The leg shot severed his femoral artery.

“He bled way out,” the investigator said.

The victim was airlifted to Lynchburg General Hospital and could be released this week.

“He’s doing pretty well now,” Emerson said.

The shooting stemmed from a long-running feud, he said.

“Apparently they had problems a couple of months ago,” he said. “Supposedly, the suspect had stolen DVDs from the victim.”

Matthew Eugene Young, 20, of Lynchburg, was arrested and charged with malicious wounding and use of a firearm in commission of a felony.

Deputies arrested another person believed to have been in the same vehicle as Young at the time of the shooting. Emerson said that person could face firearms charges related to several guns found in that vehicle. That person was not identified.