20-YEAR-OLD MAN SUSPECTED OF KILLING ONE PARENT,INJURING OTHER BY GUN

• Ben Wager, 20, arrested for murder and attempted murder of parents


• Dianne Wagner, 50, killed; Burt Wagner, 48, injured


• Court date set for October 7, 2013

Ben Wagner, 20, suspect 

Wagner Home on Donald Street

Wednesday evening, two individuals were shot in their home on Donald Street with one resulting in a fatality and the other being sent to the Lynchburg General Hospital.

            At 5:30 p.m. on October 2, a neighbor called in and reported that he heard gunshots from 134 Donald St., and saw a man named Ben Wagner, 20, carrying a gun and jumping into a car and speeding away. Lynchburg Police Detective Randi Bennett was sent to the house of Bert and Dianne Wagner to join Officers Shane Barrow and Mindy Johnson.

           

The police found the body of Ben’s mother, Dianne, 50, in the kitchen with two gun wounds in her chest. Ben’s father Bert, 48, was found unconscious in the garage with a gunshot wound on his leg. He was taken to the hospital, and is now recovering after a complication free surgery.

Bert is an employee at the Lynchburg Construction Company, and Dianne worked at a local daycare center.

Ben, the prime suspect, owns a white Camaro, the car he was seen jumping into. The police put out an all-points bulletin for his car at 6:15 p.m.

At 8:21 p.m., police spotted Ben’s car at the Shell gas station on Lee Highway. He was spotted inside buying a snack, and was then taken into custody without a fight.

While the police searched Ben’s car, they found a 9mm handgun in the back seat, which is being tested to confirm if it was the gun used to kill his parents. Ben Wagner, an employee at Burger King, was arrested and charged with murder of Dianne Wagner, and attempted murder of Bert Wagner.

“We are confident we have the one and only suspect behind bars for this crime. All the evidence we have collected points to him being the only suspect,” said Bennett.

Police report that Ben Wagner has a prior police record.

• Speeding while under the influence; guilty first offence, $1,200 fine
• Altercation at work; no charges filed
• Involvement with cocaine; no charges filed

Bert said in his statement to the police that his son had shot him.

“I lost my wife and my son. Ben may still be alive but things will never be the same. I will standby my son’s side and continue to give him the love he has always had,” said Bert to the media reporters.

“This crime has shaken the city to its core. We have made this case a priority and are working to restore peace to the Wagner’s neighborhood,” said Bennett.

Ben will face charges of one count first degree murder; one count attempted murder; one count malicious wounding at the Lynchburg General District Court Monday October 7, 2013. Attorney Harry Davis is representing him and the official trial date will be set at that time.

Word count: 465

20-year-old man attacked both parents before going to gas station to buy a snack
One woman killed and one man injured after being shot by who is suspected to be their son.