Stafford, VA. Deputies with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office arrested a suspect on Tuesday for discharging a firearm in a vehicle, almost striking a male subject, at the Royal Farms on Warrenton Road in the southern end of the county.

On April 17, 2018, Deputy Justin Howell and Sergeant Dale Colona responded to a call regarding a disturbance with a weapon at Royal Farms. Upon arrival, the deputies learned from the victim that a male suspect fired a handgun at the victim from a vehicle, nearly striking him in the head.

The victim advised the deputies that he and the suspect, identified as Alexander Caleb Sewell, 22, of Bumpass, had just come from Walmart at 11 Village Parkway where the suspect had purchased several items from the firearms section. When they got to the register, the suspect asked the victim for assistance buying the items, so the victim handed him a $100 bill.

Shortly thereafter, they went to the Royal Farms across the street to purchase a few more items. When they approached the register, the suspect opened his jacket, revealing a firearm, and told the victim to come outside with him and listen to what he had to say.

After they walked outside, the suspect said he was just kidding around and would not hurt him. The suspect then got into his vehicle and displayed two firearms. He showed the victim that one was empty and then held up the other and pointed it at the victim’s face. The suspect fired one round, which went through the windshield and almost struck the victim’s head. The victim felt the shattered glass hit his face, which resulted in a scratch under his eye, but no major injuries. Deputies found shrapnel in front of the parking spot where the suspect had parked his vehicle.

The suspect fled the scene and was later located by deputies pulling into a parking spot at the Red Roof Inn on Warrenton Road. There was a bullet hole in the windshield and two firearms on the front seat of the vehicle.

At the Magistrate’s Office, the suspect admitted to shooting the victim, but claimed it was in self-defense. The suspect was incarcerated at Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond. During a search at the jail, a controlled substance was found in the suspect’s pocket.

Sewell is charged with shooting from a vehicle, reckless handling of a firearm, felonious assault, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, possession of a controlled substance, and felony possession by a prisoner.