Fincastle man charged with assault, abduction in Botetourt County

Odyssey Fields
·1 min read

BOTETOURT COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) — The Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office says a man is now in custody after he allegedly assaulted and shot at a woman on April 29.

Deputies said just after 7 p.m. on Monday, crews were dispatched to Ruby Road for a domestic assault involving a man with a gun. The victim told deputies, that she was allegedly assaulted by a man, later identified as 60-year-old Richard Boone Willard, Jr. She said he allegedly smashed her phone, broke her front windshield, and fired a single shot at her.

Once deputies arrived at the scene, the victim told authorities as she tried to escape Willard dragged her by her hair into a camper. Willard then locked himself inside the camper with a gun.

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As a result, the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Response Team was called to assist. Authorities said first responders made several attempts to communicate with Willard through negotiators, but he refused to comply.

Shortly after midnight, authorities deployed non-lethal irritants into the camper, and Willard was taken into custody.

He was charged with the following:

  • Abduction

  • Assault and battery of a family member

  • Preventing persons from calling 911

  • Reckless handling of a firearm

  • Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Willard is being held without bond at the Botetourt-Craig Regional Jail.

The Sheriff’s Office confirmed authorities were not injured during this incident and the victim refused medical attention.

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