UPDATE: Commonwealth’s Attorney rules Jonesville man justified in shooting his father during ax attack

Lee County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney has determined a Jonesville man was justified under Virginia law in defending himself when he shot his father earlier this month.

The report issued Wednesday by H. Fuller Cridlin said the 29-year-old son fired two warning shots into the ground and ordered his 54-year-old father to back off before firing a third shot that took down the parent while he charged at his son with an ax.

Cridlin also said that the comments of other family members who witnessed the prior verbal and physical altercation that led up to the shooting matched the son’s description of the events to police.

Cridlin’s report said deputies had investigated prior complaints on the father’s abusive behavior at the home and the attorney has assisted the son in obtaining a protective order.