FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — A domestic dispute turned deadly Wednesday evening when a man allegedly chased a woman through Fredericksburg, shot her multiple times in front of their children, and then took his own life, according to police.
Authorities said the incident began near the intersection of Emancipation Highway (Route 1) and Olde William Street shortly before 5:30 p.m.
Preliminary investigations indicate the man pursued the woman in a vehicle before opening fire while both were traveling along the roadway.
Woman Shot During Pursuit
Police say the woman was struck multiple times but continued driving in an attempt to escape.
She traveled approximately half a mile north before crashing her vehicle near College Avenue, close to the University of Mary Washington campus.
Emergency responders arrived quickly and attempted life-saving measures before transporting the woman to a local hospital. Despite those efforts, she later died from her injuries.
Developing: A man chased the mother of their children in a car in Fredericksburg, shot and killed her while the kids were in her car and then took his own life, authorities say. https://t.co/hYHiUq2e8K
— NBC4 Washington (@nbcwashington) June 4, 2026
Children Hurt in Crash
Authorities confirmed that the couple’s two children, ages 3 and 7, were inside the vehicle during the shooting.
The children sustained injuries when the vehicle crashed following the attack. Officials have not released details regarding the severity of their injuries, but both survived the incident.
Police have not indicated that either child was struck by gunfire.
Suspect Dies by Suicide
Investigators say the man died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following the shooting.
The incident is being investigated as a murder-suicide linked to a domestic dispute.
Officials have not yet publicly released the identities of the deceased pending notification of family members.
Investigation Ongoing
Fredericksburg police continue to gather evidence and interview witnesses as they work to determine the full sequence of events leading up to the tragedy.
The shooting caused concern among residents and motorists in the busy corridor near the University of Mary Washington before authorities secured the scene.
