(Fredericksburg)- From Fredericksburg Police:
Fredericksburg Police report six men have been charged with Voluntary Manslaughter and Malicious Wounding by a Mob for 2011 Assault.
On December 14, 2015, Stuart Cole, 22, of Fredericksburg was found dead in his apartment four and a half years after being victim to a malicious wounding by a mob at the Walmart in Central Park. Following Cole’s death, the Fredericksburg Police Department released photos of a group believed to be responsible for the assault and requested the public’s assistance in identifying the individuals in the group. Dozens of tips poured in from the public and detectives were able to identify the individuals in the group.
On April 7, 2016, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond, Va. ruled Cole’s death a homicide related to the 2011 attack. Following the Chief Medical Examiner’s ruling, Fredericksburg Commonwealth Attorney La Bravia Jenkins convened a special grand jury to determine if there was probable cause to charge the individuals identified as suspects in the 2011 assault.
On May 20, 2016, a special grand jury indicted the six men charging each of the four who were adults at the time of the offense with felony voluntary manslaughter and felony malicious wounding by a mob. Two of the individuals were juveniles at the time of the offense and petitions were obtained. As of today’s date, two of the individuals have been arrested and are being held at Rappahannock Regional Jail on no bond. The other four are wanted on active warrants:
Howard Vaughn, 23, of Fredericksburg – arrested
Sebastian Irvin, 23, of Fredericksburg – arrested
Rashon Graves, 22, of Jacksonville, Florida – active warrants
Dequan Ellis, 22, of Fredericksburg, Virginia – active warrants
Demetrious Walker, 23, of Spotsylvania County, Virginia – active warrants
David Kerns, 24, of Stafford County, Virginia – active warrants
About the Incident:
On August 22, 2011, Stuart Cole was shopping at Walmart in Central Park and had a verbal altercation with a group of male suspects. Cole continued shopping, purchased his items, and exited the store. While placing his purchases in the trunk of his vehicle, Cole was struck on the back of the head and fell to the ground. A witness called 9-1-1 and reported seeing two males kicking another male. Police responded to the scene and found Cole with injuries to his head and face. Cole could not remember what happened after being struck and spent 11 days in the hospital from injuries sustained from the assault and faced challenges in the years following the incident. Four and a half years later on December 14, 2015, Stuart Cole was found dead in his apartment.