Virginia's first Success Space is opening at Spotsylvania Towne Centre. It will offer a fresh take on co-working that combines a professional workspace, on-site business coaching, and a cozy public café.

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After a week marked by tragedy and intense emergency response, Riverside Center for the Performing Arts offers a night of respite to those serving on the front lines. The center is giving away 200 free tickets to local first responders and teachers for Friday night’s performance of Jesus Christ Superstar on April 11, 2025.

The offer is open to area educators, fire and rescue personnel, law enforcement officers, and other first responders. All seats are first come, first served, and must be claimed in person at the Riverside Center box office. Valid credentials are required.

“This week has been especially difficult for our first responders,” said Riverside Center spokeswoman Allison Mayberry. “We hope this performance can offer them a moment of peace and appreciation for all they do to keep our community safe.”

A Week of Crisis

The free ticket offer follows a series of disturbing incidents that unfolded in Spotsylvania County, putting significant strain on emergency services.

Triple Shooting Leaves Three Dead

On Tuesday, April 8, deputies responded to a shooting near Olde Greenwich Circle, just outside Fredericksburg. Three young men—identified as Chase Feaster, 18, and Alonzo Goffney, 18, both of Spotsylvania, and an unidentified 20-year-old—were killed. Three others were hospitalized.

According to the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, the violence stemmed from an illegal gun transaction that escalated into a robbery. Four individuals, including three juveniles and 18-year-old Jeremiah Upson, face charges including malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and unlawful assembly.

The shooting prompted Fredericksburg City Public Schools to delay classes by two hours the following day out of an abundance of caution.

Plane Crash in Chancellor Community

On Wednesday afternoon, a Beechcraft aircraft en route from Leesburg to Hampton Roads crash-landed in the 11000 block of Scarlett Oak Road in the Chancellor area of Spotsylvania. The pilot reported oil pressure problems before attempting an emergency landing. The plane’s roof became lodged in a tree.

Both passengers were taken to Mary Washington Hospital with minor injuries. The FAA and NTSB are now investigating.

Gun Discharges in Elementary School Classroom

On Monday morning, a handgun discharged inside a third-grade classroom at Lee Hill Elementary School. The weapon was inside a student’s backpack when it went off accidentally. The teacher quickly evacuated all 26 students and alerted the school resource officer. No one was injured.

The Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate, and early indications show that the student did not intend harm.

A Night of Reflection

Friday’s performance of Jesus Christ Superstar begins at 7:30 p.m., and arrival is recommended by 6:45 p.m. Those wishing to purchase appetizers before the show must arrive by 6:15 p.m.

The groundbreaking rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice tells the story of the final week of Jesus Christ’s life, as seen through the eyes of Judas Iscariot. Featuring timeless songs like “Superstar,” “Gethsemane,” and “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” the production dives deep into themes of love, betrayal, sacrifice, and redemption.

Claim Your Tickets

First responders may claim their free tickets by calling or visiting the box office:

Riverside Center for the Performing Arts
95 Riverside Parkway
Fredericksburg, Virginia 22406

Box Office Hours:
Thursday & Friday: 10 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Phone: 540-370-4300

Tickets are limited and will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.

Fredericksburg City Public Schools will open two hours late on Wednesday, April 9, in response to a mass shooting that left three people dead and three others hospitalized Tuesday evening in neighboring Spotsylvania County.

School officials announced the delayed opening late Tuesday, citing the “profound impact this incident has had on members of our school community.”

“We appreciate your understanding and support as we navigate this together,” the division said in a statement.

The shooting occurred around 5:30 p.m. in the area of Olde Greenwich Circle, just off Lafayette Boulevard. Deputies with the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of gunfire and found six people suffering from gunshot wounds. Three victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while three others were taken to area hospitals. Their conditions have not been released.

Law enforcement officials say the investigation remains “active and fluid,” and no suspects have been arrested. A large police presence continues in the area as detectives work to determine what led to the deadly shooting.

“We are urging members of the public to avoid the Olde Greenwich Circle area while our investigation continues,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

The names and ages of the victims have not been released.

Potomac Local News will continue to follow this developing story.

A mass shooting has left three people dead and three others hospitalized in Spotsylvania County this evening, authorities confirm.

At 5:30 p.m., the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a shooting in the area of Olde Greenwich Circle, just off Layfaette Boulevard. Upon arrival, deputies discovered multiple individuals suffering from gunshot wounds.

Three victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while three others were transported to nearby hospitals with unknown conditions. The identities and ages of the victims have not yet been released.

The incident has prompted a large police presence in the area as investigators work to determine what led up to the shooting. No suspects have been arrested as of this report, and law enforcement officials say the situation remains “active and fluid.”

“We are urging members of the public to avoid the Olde Greenwich Circle area while our investigation continues,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

Stay with Potomac Local News for continuing coverage of this developing story.

At Old Mill Park along the Rappahannock River, there are spots where the mowers can’t reach, and to send a landscape professional in there with a weed whacker could be dangerous, so Fredericksburg has sent in the goats.

They munch the weeds until the job is done, leave a bit of organic fertilizer, and then jump on the truck to the next job, clearing invasive species at the following location.

It’s a win-win for everybody.

The goats are from The Good Steward Farm, a place in Stafford County that raises goats for this purpose. This eco-friendly initiative aims to reduce the use of heavy equipment and chemicals in our city while managing vegetation.

Shawn Phillips owns Good Steward Farm with his wife in Stafford County. They have a couple of teams of goats that go out and eat the weeds and shrubbery that are getting out of control. Sometimes, they go to residential areas, too, said Phillips.

“We have a second team that we’re about to start using on private areas,” he said.

Goat waste breaks down more efficiently than cow or horse waste, so goats are ideal. Their farm in Stafford County is a five-acre farm, but Phillips also uses land on a friend’s farm to graze the goats. If the goats aren’t rotated regularly, they will worry about parasites on some land. The farm also specializes in goat milk.

According to “Goats on the Go,” another goat mowing specialty organization, goats go where people can’t, eat what most animals won’t, and leave behind nothing but fertilizer. Their selling points include:

• Managed goats eat problem vegetation with little damage to desirable plants
• Goats eliminate the need for poisonous herbicides and CO2-spewing machines
• Light-footed goats work in rough terrain with little risk of erosion
• Seeds are not typically viable after being eaten by goats
• Valuable fertilizer is the only by-product

The goats are at Old Mill Park until the end of April. The city is looking to expand this practice. “We will evaluate the goats’ effectiveness at Old Mill Park before moving forward with any additional locations,” said City of Fredericksburg public information officer Caitlyn M. McGhee.

As Fredericksburg city officials weigh budget cuts, tax increases, and federal funding uncertainties, one possible source of future financial relief came up during a joint City Council and School Board budget work session: a data center under development in Celebrate Virginia South.

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Prince William County

Domestic Dispute Turns Violent in Coverstone IV Apartments
At 10:10 p.m. on Friday, March 29, police were called to the Coverstone IV Apartments on Cass Place for a domestic incident. A 27-year-old woman told officers that her acquaintance, Micah Emmanuel Ragin, 30, of Kannapolis, N.C., assaulted and strangled her during an argument. The man also allegedly threatened her with a knife. Police obtained warrants for Ragin, who remains at large. He is wanted for strangulation, attempted malicious wounding, and domestic assault and battery.

Instagram Sale Leads to Armed Robbery
Early Saturday morning, March 30, a 21-year-old man reported being robbed at gunpoint during a meet-up to sell clothing through Instagram. The robbery occurred on Croce Court, also in the Coverstone IV Apartments. The buyer pulled a firearm and, with the help of an accomplice, stole clothing, money, and a firearm. No injuries were reported. The suspects fled before police arrived.

Driver Brandishes Gun at Group
Just before 10:40 p.m. on March 28, officers responded to Sudley Road, where the driver of a white BMW allegedly pulled a gun on a group of people during an argument in a parking lot. A 23-year-old man approached the vehicle and was threatened with the weapon. The suspect fled the scene. No injuries were reported.

Gunfire in Two Neighborhoods
Officers also investigated two separate reports of gunfire in Manassas on Sunday, March 30:

Around 4:47 p.m., multiple shots were heard on Twin Rivers Drive. A red sedan was seen fleeing. Shell casings were recovered, with no injuries or damage reported.
At 5:33 p.m., more shots were reported on Duvon Place. A vehicle sped away, and shell casings were found nearby on Evans Ford Road. No injuries or damage were reported.

Stafford County

Chess Match Escalates into Assault
On March 29 at 6:46 p.m., deputies responded to a home on Puri Lane where an intoxicated man allegedly assaulted another person after a dispute during a chess game. The suspect also attempted to retrieve a firearm. Deputies arrested him after a brief struggle. He was charged with assault and battery, public intoxication, and obstruction of justice.

Ramoth Church Rider Charged
On March 28 just before 10 p.m., deputies were called to the 1000 block of Ramoth Church Road for a vehicle crash. A Toyota traveling at high speed left the roadway and slammed into a parked pickup truck, pushing it approximately 175 feet into a neighbor’s home. The driver, a 29-year-old man, was injured and showed signs of intoxication. Deputies found numerous bottles of alcohol in the car. The man was charged at the hospital with DUI, driving without a license, no insurance, and reckless driving. No one inside the home was injured.

DUI Arrests

Washington Square Plaza (3/28, 12:20 p.m.): A man was found intoxicated behind the wheel of a Jeep in the Sheetz parking lot. He admitted to drinking “a lot” and had open containers. He was charged with DUI and driving on a revoked license.

Richmond Hwy & Courthouse Rd (3/29, 2:22 a.m.): A woman driving 50 mph in a 35 mph zone was pulled over. She had open containers and failed sobriety tests. She was charged with DUI, speeding, and refusal.

George Mason Road (3/29, 6:27 p.m.): A woman driving a Mercedes was stopped after tailgating. She admitted to drinking five glasses of wine and claimed her “bubbly personality” could be mistaken for intoxication. She was charged with DUI and released to a responsible party.

Fraud Alert
A resident reported receiving a scam phone call from someone posing as a sheriff’s deputy demanding a gift card to avoid arrest for missing jury duty.

Thefts and Larcenies

Ulta Beauty (3/28): Three suspects stole over $5,000 in high-end cosmetics and hair care products.
America’s Best Value Inn (3/29): A man not staying at the hotel was caught stealing towels for the second day in a row.
Walmart (3/29): A man was cited after stealing oral care products and leaving in a Chevy Malibu.
Public Intoxication Calls

Town Center Blvd (3/28): An intoxicated woman trying to walk to Woodbridge was taken to the hospital.
Garrisonville Road (3/29): A man walking with his pants falling down was arrested for public intoxication.
Warrant Arrests

Raynar Court (3/28): A woman wanted in Pennsylvania was arrested without incident.
Garrison Woods (3/29): A man wanted in Stafford, Caroline County, and Maryland was arrested and held without bond.

Fredericksburg

Home Invasion and Aggravated Assault Under Investigation
Fredericksburg Police are investigating a violent breaking and entering that occurred around 10:40 p.m. on March 29 in the 1000 block of Hotchkiss Place. A masked man dressed in all black forced his way through a basement door and assaulted a female resident, strangling her until she lost consciousness. The victim later regained consciousness and struggled with the intruder, possibly breaking his arm before he fled on foot toward the Snowden Hills area.

Despite searches by the Fredericksburg Police Drone Team and a K9 unit from the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect remains at large. He is described as a heavier-set man, approximately 6’2”, wearing all-black clothing and a black balaclava. Anyone with information is asked to contact Fredericksburg Police at 540-373-3122.

Public transportation in Northern Virginia is seeing a significant rebound as ridership continues to climb on both Virginia Railway Express (VRE) trains and OmniRide commuter and local buses. However, transit leaders warn that increased demand may soon outpace available resources, especially for locally funded services.

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One of Fredericksburg’s most popular parks will transform into an eco-celebration zone on Saturday, April 26, as the city hosts its annual Earth Day Festival at Old Mill Park.

Now in its 20th year, the festival draws thousands of attendees and celebrates environmental awareness through hands-on activities, live entertainment, and eco-friendly vendors.

“The Earth Day Festival is really all about helping the community get excited about our planet and excited about taking care of it,” said Callie Brown, Superintendent of Recreation for Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation & Events.

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is expected to draw between 2,000 and 5,000 people — and potentially more if the weather holds out. The largest turnout to date reached nearly 8,000 attendees.

A Park Fit for the Planet

Old Mill Park, located along the Rappahannock River and the Heritage Trail, is the city’s most-used green space. Its open fields, tree cover, and riverfront access make it a perfect venue for the festival.

“This is a really great location,” said Brown. “It’s a scenic and central space that’s easy to access, especially for those who want to walk or bike in.”

Festival organizers encourage attendees to use alternative transportation such as walking, biking, or carpooling. There is no public parking on-site except for those with handicap permits. Shuttle service will be available from nearby satellite parking lots.

What to Expect

• The day will be packed with activities for all ages:
• Live music throughout the event.
• Earth Quest Raptor Show at 1 p.m., featuring live birds of prey.
• Interactive vendor booths promoting sustainability and education.
• Rock climbing wall and tree climbing challenges.
• Paddling pool, presented by the Virginia Outdoor Center, where attendees can try kayaking and canoeing in a controlled environment.
• And perhaps the most anticipated: Goat yoga and a live demonstration of how goats will be used to mow grass at the park.

“We’re starting a new initiative at Old Mill where they’re gonna be bringing in goats to mow some of the grasses,” said Brown. “The goats will be on site, and there will even be baby goats doing goat yoga.”

Months in the Making

Planning for the Earth Day Festival begins as early as November. Brown leads a team that organizes vendor applications, logistics, entertainment, sponsorships, and promotions.

“Our staff divides into teams — attractions, sponsorship, parking — and we meet regularly to bring it all together,” said Courtney Merzowski, Superintendent of Special Events. This will be Merzowski’s first Earth Day Festival in her new role.

All vendors are required to include interactive elements at their booths, such as educational displays, hands-on activities, or demonstrations.

“We don’t want people to just come and buy things. We want them to engage with Earth Day themes and learn something new,” Brown said.

A detailed schedule and shuttle information will be posted online ahead of the event. Visitors are encouraged to check the site before attending.

Governor Glenn Youngkin visited Stafford County on Friday, highlighting more than 250,000 open jobs across Virginia—even as concerns mount over federal job cuts. Speaking at SimVentions, an engineering and technology services firm in Stafford, Youngkin told the crowd, “Virginia has jobs. Lots of jobs.”

The event, hosted at SimVentions’ headquarters, was organized with the help of State Senator Tara Durant (R-28, Fredericksburg, Stafford), who said the initiative behind the state’s jobs rollout has been years in the making.

Youngkin praised the Commonwealth’s momentum in job growth, citing key statistics.

“We’ve had over 260,000 more people working today than just three years ago,” said Youngkin. “And that has translated into over $100 billion of investment committed to plants, to expansions, to R&D centers, to new headquarters, and very importantly, to new power supplies across all of Virginia.”

Youngkin also pointed to four consecutive years of budget surpluses totaling nearly $10 billion. “We’ve been able to return a substantial amount of money in tax relief to our owners, the people of Virginia. $8 billion by the time we’re done,” he said, noting the number could reach $9 billion under the current budget negotiations.

The governor emphasized that investment has extended to education, with “Virginia investing 50% more in education than we did just five years ago.”

SimVentions President Joe Caliri said the company currently has “27 or 29 job openings,” with most roles focused on “high-tech secure type work—software engineering, system engineering, modeling simulation, cyber security, and then all the analytics that come along with that.”

Caliri said SimVentions has grown from just three employees to more than 400. “It’s been a challenge to grow the business at the right level, at the right pace. But hiring the right people makes a big difference. So we’re really picky about who we hire and make sure we keep them once we get them.”

Although SimVentions has not been directly impacted by the federal job cuts, Caliri said the ripple effects of federal job losses are being felt.

“It affects me watching the patriots who are federal employees kind of get shoved aside a little bit,” he said. “So if our customers aren’t being successful or don’t have an opportunity to be successful, by definition, we can’t be successful.”

Durant said the virginiaHasjobs.com initiative wasn’t a reactive move—it’s been long in development.

“They started this out of necessity even before we started to see this whole new conversation from a different perspective that some people may be looking for work,” she said. “So I think that’s why the website and the rollout has been so phenomenal because clearly you can tell they’ve been working on this for a decade.”

Asked if the region is prepared for more federal layoffs, Durant said, “In our family, we’re walking through this with our family and friends too. My husband is a federal employee. Everybody’s affected. Yeah, we’re walking through this together.”

Still, she expressed hope that Stafford County and surrounding areas may weather the storm better than others. “Considering this region has been so vibrant and we’ve been growing so fast, I think we’re going to, you know, hopefully we will land better than maybe some other parts,” she said.

Youngkin urged those impacted by federal cuts—or anyone seeking a new opportunity—to visit virginiahasjobs.com, where more than 250,000 jobs are listed.

“The second most powerful three words in the English language are, ‘You are hired,’” said Youngkin. “They express so much. I value you, and therefore want you to be part of our team. You will have a future, and therefore you don’t hire a person. Oftentimes, you hire a family.”