New Developments The Feb. 8th shooting of a Lunenburg woman — allegedly by off-duty Kenbridge Police Officer Aaron Stokes (right) — has resulted in a lawsuit against the Town and Chief of Police filed by the victim, who still has a bullet in her shoulder. Stokes, who has a child with the victim, remains in jail and is due in court March 18th.
DEFENDANTS ARE TOWN & POLICE CHIEF
The Town of Kenbridge and its Chief of Police are being sued by a woman who was shot several times last month, allegedly by an off-duty Kenbridge officer.
The $143.7 million suit by Heather Burrow, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds on the afternoon of Sunday, February 8th, has been filed in Richmond City Circuit Court in an effort to have the case tried outside of Lunenburg County.
Officer Charles Aaron Stokes, 44, allegedly shot Ms. Burrow as she was arriving to pick-up their child, wounding Ms. Burrow several times. Photos of her vehicle show what appear to be eight bullet holes in her driver’s side window.
Stokes allegedly fled to NC and switched vehicles before returning to Lunenburg the following evening and surrendering. There have been some reports, all unconfirmed, that while Stokes was on the run and described by authorities as “armed and dangerous,” he was in communication before his surrender with one or more officers of the law and others. Town officials and Lunenburg County Sheriff Arthur Townsend have declined comment, saying they have been instructed by State Police to not
In her $143.7 million suit, the plaintiff claims that Chief of Police Christopher Wallace ignored her pleas for help moments before she was shot. CBS6 broke the lawsuit story last week, reporting: “A copy of the complaint shows the victim, a former Kenbridge police officer herself, claiming she called Wallace the day of the shooting, saying she was afraid to pickup her daughter from Stokes’ home. The lawsuit alleges the Chief then told Stokes about the call. Court documents state: ‘Stokes was furious that she had involved others. Minutes later, he shot her ten times.’”
Ms. Burrow, who served previously in Kenbridge PD, is being represented by attorney Sharif Gray of the Broughton Gray law firm, which has offices in Henrico, VA Beach, and Roanoke.
Happier Times Shooting victim Heather Burrow (right) is shown here in June 2023 after completing law enforcement academy. Among those congratulating her was Kenbridge Chief of Police Christopher Wallace (left). Ms. Burrow, who was shot and wounded several times on Feb. 8th — allegedly by officer Aaron Stokes — is now suing the Town and Chief Wallace for $143.7 million. Town of Kenbridge Facebook page
A statement by attorney Gray on LinkedIn says the case is about “trust” and that his client “wants accountability. She feels let down. That trust was violated.”
Attorney Gray added, “When someone calls law enforcement for protection — and that call is handed to the person they’re afraid of — something fundamental breaks. Our client is still recovering. A bullet remains lodged in her shoulder. Media interviews don’t win cases. But they draw a line.”
CBS6 reported, “The victim’s family says she is still recovering and will forever have a bullet in her shoulder that surgeons cannot remove. In court filings, the victim’s lawyers explain they want the civil case tried in Richmond rather than in Lunenburg, saying the case is too high profile and the people involved are too well-known in the small town. They further explained that finding a jury without a personal or emotional connection would not be possible.”
The man who allegedly shot Ms. Burrow — Charles Aaron Stokes — is son of the late Charles Warren Stokes who served as Sheriff of Lunenburg County.
ATTORNEY SHARIF GRAY
In the shooting of Ms. Burrow, Charles Aaron Stokes, 44, is charged with Aggravated Malicious Wounding and Use of a Firearm in Commission of a Felony. He’s being represented by long-time attorney R. Clinton Clary, Jr. of Lawrenceville. A court appearance for Stokes is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18th, in Lunenburg General District Court.
Sources close to the case say that Ms. Burrow survived only because she used her police training — when she saw the gun drawn on her, she got down low and to the right and hit the gas pedal.
Despite being wounded, she was able to drive herself about a mile or so to the fire and rescue station on East 5th Avenue in Kenbridge, where help arrived. She was flown by helicopter to an area hospital and underwent surgery, which was called successful but doctors feared removing one of the bullets could cause more harm.
Loading Comments