Virginia – In a horrifying turn of events, a custody swap at a designated safe space in Virginia, turned deadly when a 45-year-old man, identified as J. Pierce, fatally shot his ex-wife’s fiancé and a friend in front of his three sons. The incident has shaken the community and raised serious questions about the safety of such exchange locations.
On March 2, at approximately 5:13 p.m., Pierce was engaged in a deadly shooting in the rear parking lot of the municipal building, a location intended to serve as a safe environment for custody exchanges. The victims, identified as 31-year-old J. Catron and 29-year-old B. Sledd, were fatally shot in the presence of Pierce’s three sons during what was supposed to be a peaceful handover. According to reports from local media sources, Pierce, who remained at the scene after the shooting, was arrested and is facing two counts of second-degree murder. Additionally, he has been charged with two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. The incident was witnessed by two firefighters.
The victims of this tragic event were closely linked to Pierce’s family. Catron was engaged to Pierce’s ex-wife, and Sledd was described as a friend of the couple. Both men lost their lives in a space that was specifically designed to prevent such outcomes. Initiated in 2017, the ‘safe drop locations’ are marked with green paint, signage, and are under constant surveillance to ensure safety. This particular area was not only marked clearly with signs but also featured a visible surveillance camera, indicating a high level of security intended by the local police department…