The UVA University Democrats and College Republicans publicized that they will be holding a collective vigil for Virginia Senator Creigh Deeds at 8 p.m. Thursday at the UVA Ampitheater located on McCormick Road on Central Grounds.
Deeds was born in Richmond in 1958, the son of a former Richmond police officer and state worker, is in critical condition after being stabbed in his home and his son Gus has died from a gunshot wound. A spokeswoman for the Virginia State Police, Corinne Geller, stated in a news interview in Charlottesville, that the senator had sustained “serious” injuries. Deeds was stabbed multiple times around the upper torso and in his head. Senator Deeds was stabbed several times before going down a private driveway and out on to Virginia 42. He then had to be airlifted from a cousin’s farm who lives nearby. It is unknown how he contacted his cousin. His son who died at the scene, was found inside with a gunshot wound, law enforcement sources told the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
The police have not said whether the son’s wound was self-inflicted. Authorities are not looking for other suspects. They are trying to determine what led up to the events that played out at this Virginia home. Senator Deeds was acutely close to his son Gus, and has taken formidable efforts to help him over the years. Del. David J. Toscano, D-Charlottesville, is quoted in a statement saying, “This is a terrible tragedy.”
Del. R. Steven Landes, R-Augusta, who shares representation of part of Albemarle County with Deeds, said that they often had talked about their families. “It’s just a real shock,” reported Landes.”
“When a tragedy falls on somebody’s family like this, it’s just a cause for great sorrow.” Republican Bob McDonnell, attorney general in 2005 and governor in 2009, commented, “Creigh Deeds is an exceptional and committed public servant who has always done what he believes is best for Virginia and who gives his all to public service.”
Creigh Deeds lost the 2005 race for attorney general to Bob McDonnell by the slimmest margin in current Virginia history — until the present election for attorney general. Deeds, 55 has served in the state Senate since 2001, representing Bath County. McDonnell has also said, that ” he is praying for Senator Deeds and his family and that they all recover well.” A spokesman, Brian Whitson, at the College of William and Mary where Gus Deeds had been enrolled as a student at since 2007, though not consistently was “very saddened to hear this tragic news.”
Image Credit: Times Dispatch
Image Credit: Times Dispatch