LUNENBURG COUNTY, Va. — An off-duty police officer accused of shooting a woman multiple times Sunday afternoon in Lunenburg County has been taken into custody, according to Virginia State Police.
Charles A. Stokes, 44, of Lunenburg, faces charges of aggravated malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
VSP said Stokes was taken into custody without incident around 6:30 Monday evening at a residence in the Town of Kenbridge in Lunenburg County. He is currently being held at the Meherrin River Regional Jail in Alberta, Va
Stokes is a member of the Kenbridge Police Department, police confirmed, and was off duty at the time of the shooting.
The incident occurred around 2:43 p.m. Sunday when law enforcement was notified that a woman had been shot inside her vehicle in Lunenburg County, according to a Virginia State Police news release.
The woman was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Police said Stokes fired into the vehicle multiple times before fleeing.
A family member of Stokes told WTVR that the shooting actually took place outside Stokes's home and involved a woman with whom he shares a "tumultuous" relationship and a 1-year-old child.
The family member said the victim is a former Kenbridge police officer.
An online fundraiser made for the victim says she is "steadily healing" but needs assistance with ongoing medical bills and follow-up procedures.
Stokes initially fled in a vehicle that was later recovered Sunday at a business in Henderson, North Carolina.
Police believe he then stole a 2007 silver Honda Civic with Virginia license plates TGL 9143.
The family member told WTVR that Stokes contacted them Sunday night using a burner phone. When family members urged him to return home, he refused and has not made contact since, the relative said.
"It's always been tumultuous," the family member said of the couple's relationship, adding they did not know what triggered Sunday's violence.
This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information.
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