A Northern Virginia man is accused of fatally shooting a mortgage company employee who was doing work on a property where he lived and which was to be foreclosed, authorities said.
Michael Dodge II, 35, was working at a house in Stafford County, Virginia, and was on the phone with a co-worker Tuesday just before the shooting.
The co-worker called police after hearing shots being fired during the call and being unable to reach Mr. Dodge afterward, the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office said.
Deputies went to the home and found Mr. Dodge, who was declared dead at the scene.
The deputies had a brief stand-off with the suspect — Donald Thomas, 64, who was living on the property and who is accused of shooting Mr. Dodge multiple times. Mr. Thomas was arrested without further incident.
Authorities charged Mr. Thomas with first-degree murder and unlawfully shooting or wounding in the commission of a felony. He is being held in the Rappahannock Regional Jail in Fredericksburg without bond.
The sheriff’s office did not divulge the nature of Mr. Dodge’s work. The victim reportedly was at the house to ensure the property was secure and replace its locks in preparation for foreclosure proceedings.
“If the property was broken, he would go secure it. If the property had to have some minor repairs, he would do the repairs,” the victim’s father, Michael William Dodge, told WUSA-TV.
The sheriff’s office did not specify whether Mr. Thomas was living legally in the property.
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.
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