City Man Killed In SD Shooting

STUARTS DRAFT - A 33-year-old Waynesboro man was shot and killed here last night but law enforcement officials are releasing only sparse information regarding the incident.

A spokesman for the Augusta County Sheriff's Department identified the victim as Duke Wayne Wheeler of King Avenue.

Sheriff Glenn Lloyd authorized only the release of the victim's name, his birthdate, that he was shot by a handgun and the time of the call as 7:11 p.m. He added that the incident is still under investigation and no charges have been placed at this time.

The Stuarts Draft Rescue Squad reportedly was called to the Charles Taylor residence in Ridgeview Acres, where a resident of the area said the shooting occurred.

Squad officials declined to release information regarding the call.

A spokesman for Etter Funeral Home in Waynesboro said Wheeler's body has been taken from Waynesboro Community Hospital to Roanoke for an autopsy.

Arrangements will be announced by Etter. Friends will be received at the home of his parents, Wade H. and Shirley Moats Wheeler, at 428 N. Delphine Ave. in Waynesboro.

Unofficial sources indicated this morning that Wheeler is separated from his wife and that the shooting incident occurred at the home of her mother and stepfather.

Law enforcement officials were unavailable to confirm reports the Taylor family had received threats.

According to a spokesman for the Waynesboro Circuit Court, a charge against Wheeler of maliciously causing bodily injury to Charles Henry Taylor on Oct. 11, 1987, was "continued generally."

That was the same date Wheeler's brother, Jeffrey Scott Wheeler, was fatally shot during a twofamily fight on Winchester Avenue in Waynesboro. A Stuarts Draft father and son, Randolph Jerry Carr and R. J. Carr Jr., were found not guilty in connection with that shooting.

[The News-Virginian – Waynesboro, Virginia – Friday March 13, 1992 – Pages 1, 8]

Police Have Suspect, No Arrest in Draft Shooting

STAUNTON - Investigators have a suspect in the March 12 shooting death of a Waynesboro man, but have made no arrests. Duke Wayne Wheeler, 33, of 815 King Ave., was killed at 7:11 p.m. Thursday by one or more bullets fired from a small handgun. He was killed at the Charles Taylor residence in Ridgeview Acres, Stuarts Draft.

While investigators with the Augusta County Sheriff's Department have been tight-fisted with information regarding the incident, it was revealed this morning that there is a suspect and that no arrests will be made until investigators talk with the office of the commonwealth's attorney.

Commonwealth's Attorney A. Lee Ervin is out of town until Wednesday.

Police declined to release any further information.

[The News-Virginian – Waynesboro, Virginia – Tuesday March 17, 1992 – Page 1]

Autopsy Finished In Shooting Case In Stuarts Draft

Duke Wayne Wheeler died from a series of gunshot wounds to the chest, according to the Roanoke office of Deputy Medical Examiner David W. Oxley.

Wheeler, 33, of 815 King Ave. Waynesboro, was killed the night of March 12 at the Ridgeview Acres residence of Charles Taylor. No arrests have been made in the case.

All inquiries regarding the case have been forwarded from the Augusta County Sheriff's Department to the office of Commonwealth's Attorney A. Lee Ervin.

Ervin said this morning that no arrests have been made because the case is still under investigation. He said it is normal procedure to receive all reports and complete all phases of an investigation before making an arrest, even in the case of a shooting.

Oxley's office said the autopsy report was sent to local Medical Examiner Malcolm Tenney and to local law enforcement officials.

According to unofficial sources, Wheeler was separated from his wife and met his death at the home of her mother and stepfather. He reportedly was shot with a handgun.

Waynesboro Circuit Court records from 1987 indicate that Wheeler was charged with maliciously causing bodily injury to Taylor, and that the case was "continued generally."

[The News-Virginian – Waynesboro, Virginia – Thursday April 2, 1992 – Page 1]

Stuarts Draft Man Indicted in Killing

STAUNTON - A Stuarts Draft man has been indicted for the first-degree murder of Duke Wayne Wheeler.

Charles H. Taylor, of Ridgeview Acres, was indicted yesterday by an Augusta County Circuit Court grand jury for the "premeditated," first-degree murder of Wheeler at Taylor's residence.

The incident occurred March 12.

The grand jury also handed up an indictment against Taylor for the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Wheeler, 33, of 815 King Ave., Waynesboro, reportedly was killed with a handgun. An autopsy report from the Roanoke office of Deputy Medical Examiner David W. Oxley said Wheeler died from a series of gunshot wounds to the chest.

At press time, no arrests had been made.

To date, all inquiries regarding the case have been forwarded from the Augusta County Sheriff's Department to the office of Commonwealth's Attorney A. Lee Ervin, who would make no comment other than to say to “check back” after the grand jury met.

This morning, Ervin again would make no comment and diverted all inquiries back to the sheriff's department.

[The News-Virginian – Waynesboro, Virginia – Tuesday April 28, 1992 – Page 1]

Stuarts Draft Man Arrested In Shooting

STAUNTON - Charges of first murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony have been placed against a Stuarts Draft man in connection with the March 12 shooting death of 33-year-old Waynesboro resident Duke Wayne Wheeler.

Charles H. Taylor of Ridgeview Acres was arrested "without incident™ yesterday by the Augusta County Sheriff's Department.

A report indicated Taylor is alleging self defense.

According to the report, Taylor told police he went outside his residence March 12 to take out the trash. While he was outside, Wheeler allegedly entered the residence through a back door.

Taylor said when he returned to the residence, Wheeler was waiting for him. When Wheeler reportedly made threatening moves, Taylor shot him several times in the chest with a .38-caliber handgun.

Taylor was indicted on the two counts Monday by an Augusta County Circuit Court grand jury. He has been released from the Augusta County jail on a $20.000 real estate bond.

Waynesboro Circuit Court records from 1987 reveal that Wheeler, of 815 King Ave., was charged at that time with maliciously causing bodily injury to Taylor.

The case was "continued generally."

A spokesman for the Augusta County Circuit Court said no court date I has been set. The spokesman said the court is waiting for a return on the capias issued for Taylor's arrest, which has a return date of May 8.

The spokesman said a date may be set at that time.

[The News-Virginian – Waynesboro, Virginia – Thursday April 30, 1992 – Page 1]

Taylor Not Guilty in Shooting

STAUNTON - An Augusta County man was found not guilty of first-degree murder yesterday in connection with the March 12 shooting death of Duke Wayne Wheeler of Waynesboro.

Augusta County Circuit Court Judge Thomas H. Wood ruled that Charles H. Taylor, 47, of Stuarts Draft, acted in self defense when he shot Wheeler three times at Taylor's Ridgeview Acres residence.

Taylor was represented by Waynesboro attorney Humes Franklin Jr.

The shooting stemmed from a long-standing domestic dispute between Taylor and Wheeler. Taylor was the stepfather of Wheeler's wife, Sandra Wheeler.

Testimony indicated that the night of the shooting. Wheeler came to Taylor's residence looking for his wife. Taylor had gone outside to take out the trash, and when he returned he saw Wheeler standing in the shadows.

Taylor told the court that Wheeler demanded to know where his wife was, then "came toward me." Taylor said he produced a handgun and fired five shots at Wheeler.

[The News-Virginian – Waynesboro, Virginia – Wednesday October 28, 1992 – Page 1]