A Staunton man who opened fire on a municipal traffic crew in broad daylight two years ago will not face criminal incarceration after a judge ruled that he was legally insane at the time of the incident.
Wilfredo Vazquez Velazquez, 35, appeared in Staunton Circuit Court where his criminal proceedings concluded with a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity. Following the ruling, the court directed that he be transferred into the temporary custody of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services for a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation.
The resolution stems from a chaotic afternoon on October 1, 2024, when gunfire suddenly erupted in a Staunton neighborhood. Despite multiple rounds being discharged directly toward roadside workers and nearby structures, no individuals suffered physical injuries during the encounter.
According to a formal stipulation of facts submitted in the case, the incident took place at approximately 1:30 p.m. Vazquez Velazquez was operating a white Toyota Corolla along West Beverley Street, near the intersection of Highland Avenue, when he produced a firearm, aimed it directly at the road crew, and began shooting.
The sudden gunfire forced the workers to immediately scramble and dive for cover to avoid being hit. One witness on the scene described seeing puffs of dust erupting from the pavement where the projectiles struck the ground.
Another laborer recounted that Vazquez Velazquez pointed a handgun directly at a man's head before accelerating away in his vehicle. As he fled the immediate area, he continued discharging rounds from inside his car, ultimately striking a nearby building.
Law enforcement officers quickly mobilized and apprehended Vazquez Velazquez a short time later at Thornrose Cemetery. A search of his vehicle uncovered two firearms—a .50-caliber handgun and a 9mm handgun—along with a metal vial containing approximately three grams of cocaine.
Following his arrest, Vazquez Velazquez exhibited severe psychiatric distress while being transported by law enforcement. According to court records, he claimed that he was being actively tormented by angels and demons, stating that one of the demonic entities believed he was Jesus Christ.
During the transport, he also made rambling remarks about shifting dimensions, openly questioned whether he was a real person, and expressed intense paranoia that unidentified individuals were attempting to end his life. The nature of his statements prompted responding officers to promptly seek immediate medical care on his behalf.
During a medical evaluation conducted the following day, Vazquez Velazquez disclosed a prior medical diagnosis of bipolar disorder. He acknowledged to clinicians, however, that he had failed to take his prescribed psychotropic medications for a period spanning several years prior to the shooting.
The case followed a protracted legal and psychological process through the judicial system. In December 2024, the court found Vazquez Velazquez mentally incompetent to stand trial, resulting in his admission to Western State Hospital in Staunton the following month for treatment and restoration services.
By the summer of 2025, a clinical psychologist concluded that Vazquez Velazquez’s competency had been successfully restored, allowing criminal proceedings to resume. Several months later, in November 2025, psychological evaluators determined that he satisfied the statutory medical criteria for legal insanity at the precise time the shooting occurred.
During his formal court appearance on Tuesday, September 8, Vazquez Velazquez entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity to an array of pending charges, which included attempted murder. He was represented throughout the legal proceedings by defense attorney Gene Hart.
Had the case proceeded to trial and resulted in standard convictions, Vazquez Velazquez faced severe criminal penalties. The indictment comprised eight separate felony counts and two misdemeanors, carrying a combined maximum potential sentence of up to 65 years in state prison.
Before rendering her formal ruling, Circuit Court Judge Anne Reed highlighted the defendant’s protracted history of psychiatric conditions, observing that his severe underlying mental health struggles were significantly exacerbated by illicit substance use. Judge Reed also expressed relief that no bystanders or workers sustained physical injury during the gunfire.
Judge Reed ordered that an updated mental health evaluation report be submitted to the court by November 10. That upcoming hearing will determine whether Vazquez Velazquez will be granted a conditional release into the community or placed into long-term involuntary civil commitment at a state psychiatric facility.
Staunton Commonwealth’s Attorney John Baber addressed the post-verdict legal framework, emphasizing that the justice system will maintain ongoing oversight over the defendant's status. Baber noted that if Vazquez Velazquez is formally committed to an institution, the court will conduct periodic reviews to monitor his condition and public safety risks.
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