25-year-old arrested after shooting that led to police car crash in Danville

DANVILLE, Va. (WSET) — A man is in custody after Danville police said a shooting Thursday night led to a car crash involving a patrol car.

Police said 25-year-old Marvin Saunders Jr. shot a 39-year-old man in the 200 block of N. Main Street around 5:15 p.m. The two men involved knew each other and the shooting was the result of a fight that escalated, according to police. No one was injured in the shooting, but a vehicle was struck by a bullet.

The DPD said officers were called to the scene shortly after 5:15 p.m. and learned that Saunders had fled.

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At about that time, according to DPD, two officers in separate police vehicles were on N. Main Street and saw Saunders driving a white Dodge pickup truck in the southbound lane.

While one of the officers was accelerating to catch up with the suspect, he was involved in a car accident at the intersection of W. Thomas Street and N. Main Street.

Police said the driver and passenger of the other vehicle involved were taken from the scene with non-life-threatening injuries. DPD also said the officer involved was uninjured and their hazard lights were on. The accident is still under investigation and DPD did not say who was at fault.

Shortly after the traffic accident, the shooting suspect's vehicle was stopped, Saunders was arrested and a firearm was confiscated.

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Saunders is accused of the following:

• Attempted malicious bodily harm.
• Use of a firearm in the commission of a crime.
• Firing a firearm in a public place.
• Reckless handling of a firearm.
• Brandishing a firearm.

He is being held without bail in the Danville Jail and the shooting remains under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Danville Police by either calling 911, contacting Patrol at 434-799-6510 (Option 4), Investigations at 434-799-6508 (Option 3), and again Option 1, Crime Stoppers at 434-793-0000, approaching any officer they see, through social media, emailing [email protected], or using our crime tips app CARE. Individuals with information leading to an arrest and conviction may be eligible for a cash reward.