Home Albemarle County | Reality TV? Nope, driver takes gunfire in real-life towing incident
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Albemarle County | Reality TV? Nope, driver takes gunfire in real-life towing incident

Crystal Graham
purse gun suspect firearm
(© amenic181 – stock.adobe.com)

Two individuals are facing criminal charges for allegedly shooting at a truck driver towing a vehicle from an Albemarle County apartment complex.

According to the Albemarle County Police Department, the incident unfolded at 1:45 a.m. on Tuesday night on Peyton Drive.

No injuries or property damage were reported.

The incident played out just like a staged reality show: Lizard Lick Towing, South Beach Tow and Operation Repo all followed tow-truck drivers looking to repossess cars from dangerous situations and people.

Only apparently this stuff happens in real life too.

Octavia S. Williams, 27, and Marquice A. Waller, 36, went to the towing lot in Charlottesville, with a gun in Williams’ purse, to retrieve the vehicle.

The firearm had been reported stolen in July.

Instead of leaving with the automobile, both were arrested on site by officers who were interviewing the victims for a police report.



Waller, the suspected shooter, has been charged with five felonies including two counts of attempted malicious wounding, two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Williams and Waller have been charged with one count each of possession of stolen property.

According to online court records, Waller has faced more than 25 charges for mostly non-violent crimes including driving with a suspended license, marijuana possession, trespassing, assault, felony eluding of police and multiple traffic violations. Williams has faced numerous charges traffic violations for reckless driving, speeding, driving on a suspended license and expired registration.

Both are being held at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.

Anyone with more information about the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (434) 977-4000.

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Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, Crystal Graham has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of "Virginia Tonight," a nightly TV news show, both broadcast on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television. You can reach her at [email protected]

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