Man killed in Petersburg Family Dollar parking lot; suspect arrested
PETERSBURG – A Dinwiddie County man was shot to death outside a Walnut Hill store Monday afternoon, and the alleged shooter led police on a pursuit that ended in Dinwiddie County.
Robert Morton Booker Jr., 65, of North Dinwiddie, was shot shortly before 12:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Family Dollar at 2075 South Crater Road in front of Walnut Hill Plaza, according to a statement Monday night from Petersburg Police. He died at the scene.
After the shooting, the suspect fled the scene and led police on a hide-and-seek pursuit that went into downtown Petersburg, then on Halifax Street through Delectable Heights out onto Boydton Plank Road [U.S. Route 1] where he was finally caught near a fast-food restaurant.
Police identified the suspect as Isaiah Dante Tyree, 31, of Prince George County. Tyree has been charged with first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and use of a firearm by a convicted felon.
He was arrested without incident. No one else was injured.
A motive for the shooting was not disclosed. The investigation is ongoing.
Police closed the northbound lanes of South Crater Road in front of the store for several hours while the preliminary investigation continued.
Booker is the 18th murder victim in Petersburg this year and the second homicide in the past eight days.
“Petersburg Bureau of Police extends our condolences to the family and loved ones of Robert Morton Booker Jr.,” the police statement read. “We also extend our gratitude to the public and all law enforcement agencies involved in the swift apprehension of the suspect.”
Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI.
This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Man killed in Petersburg Family Dollar parking lot; suspect arrested
