January 3, 2019

Burglar shot Wednesday night at Old Tavern home

Matthew Darolyn Hawkes, 39, and George Cornelius Grant, 39, both of Marshall, face multiple charges after their arrests Wednesday night.

The confrontation took place in at a rented home just north of Great Meadow, on Old Tavern Road near The Plains.

A resident of Old Tavern on Wednesday night shot an armed burglar, whom deputies later arrested and charged, according to the Fauquier sheriff’s office.



Matthew Darolyn Hawkes, 39, of Marshall, suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, Sgt. James Hartman said.



Charged with four crimes, Mr. Hawkes remained in a Northern Virginia hospital Thursday afternoon, according to Sgt. Hartman.



Armed with a handgun, the suspect allegedly kicked in the front door of a rented home in the 4900 block of Old Tavern Road near The Plains late Wednesday.



“Multiple callers (to 911) advised gunshots had been fired” at 10:24 p.m., Sgt. Hartman said.



When sheriff’s deputies arrived, “occupants of the residence described a short male wearing a mask entering through the door,” he added. “One of the occupants of the residence fired several gun shots at the man who then fled on foot.”



The deputies identified a suspect “after learning of a . . . recent altercation between the homeowner and a male acquaintance,” the sergeant said.



A sheriff’s office tracking dog and Fairfax County Police helicopter joined the manhunt.



“The K-9 led to an area near Old Tavern Road and Old Winchester Road,” Sgt. Hartman said. “A Virginia state trooper observed a suspicious vehicle come from that area and initiated contact with that vehicle on Old Tavern Road. The suspect identified earlier was found to be an occupant of that vehicle and was detained.”



That suspect, George Cornelius Grant, 39, of Marshall, also faces charges.



Meanwhile, deputies searching along Old Tavern Road found Mr. Hawkes, wounded at the home, hiding in a ditch.



Staffed with medics, the Fairfax helicopter flew him to a hospital for treatment.



Authorities had both suspects in custody before midnight.



Mr. Hawkes faces charges of burglary at night while armed, conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to commit abduction and wearing a mask in public.



Authorities charged Mr. Grant with conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to commit abduction and violation of a protective order. He remained in the Fauquier County Adult Detention Center without bond Thursday afternoon.



Neither of the people in the home — a man and a woman — suffered injury, according to Sgt. Hartman, who said the investigation continues. The man fired a handgun at the intruder, according to the sergeant.



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