ACCOMACK COUNTY, Va. — A late-night shooting outside a Royal Farms convenience store has left one man dead and another facing serious charges, according to the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office.
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Sheriff W. Todd Wessells confirmed Thursday that David Dean Bowden Jr., 19, of New Church, is in custody in connection with the fatal shooting of Miguel Ethan Soto Trader, 25, also of New Church. Bowden is being held without bond at the Accomack County Jail.
Details of the Incident
Authorities say that on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at about 11:24 p.m., dispatchers at the Accomack County 9-1-1 Center received multiple calls reporting gunfire at the Royal Farms located at 33620 Chincoteague Road, a busy area near the Maryland line.
Deputies arrived within minutes and found Trader lying unresponsive near the entrance of the store with apparent gunshot wounds. Emergency responders attempted life-saving measures, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
His body was later transported to the Norfolk Medical Examiner’s Office, where an autopsy will determine the exact cause and manner of death.
Rapid Investigation and Arrest
The Sheriff’s Office said investigators quickly gathered witness statements, reviewed surveillance footage from the store, and collected forensic evidence from the scene. Within hours, deputies identified Bowden as a suspect and secured arrest warrants.
Bowden was taken into custody without incident early Thursday morning. He faces the following charges:
Second-Degree Murder
Discharge of a Firearm within a Building
Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony
Unlawful Wounding
Sheriff Wessells credited the swift work of deputies and collaborating agencies for bringing the suspect into custody so quickly.
Community and Agency Response
In a statement, Sheriff Wessells expressed condolences to Trader’s family and gratitude to the agencies that assisted in the case, including the Virginia State Police, Wallops Flight Facility Fire Department, Oak Hall Rescue, and the Accomack County Department of Public Safety.
“This was a tragic act of violence, and our thoughts are with the loved ones of Mr. Trader,” Wessells said. “Thanks to the rapid coordination between our deputies, state police, and local responders, we were able to apprehend the suspect before dawn.”
The sheriff also noted that the shooting underscores the importance of community cooperation and quick reporting of suspicious activity.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities say the motive for the shooting remains under investigation. Detectives are working to determine what led up to the deadly encounter and whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Sheriff’s Office urged anyone with information related to the case—or any other crime in Accomack County—to contact investigators at (757) 787-1131 or (757) 824-5666, or to submit tips anonymously through the sheriff’s office website at accomackcountysheriffsoffice.org
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Impact on the Community
News of the fatal shooting spread quickly through the small New Church community, leaving residents shocked and saddened. Many expressed grief for Trader’s family and concern about gun violence in the region.
Local leaders encouraged neighbors to support one another as the investigation continues. “Our hearts go out to those who are hurting right now,” said one community member outside the store Thursday morning. “We hope justice is served, and we hope for healing for everyone involved.”
As the legal process moves forward, Miguel Ethan Soto Trader’s loved ones are left mourning a life cut short, while authorities work to piece together the circumstances that led to Wednesday night’s tragedy.