MEDIA RELEASE
February 21, 2026
Henry County Sheriff’s Office
UPDATE: Arrest Made in Shots Fired Incident at Sportslanes
As a result of continued investigative efforts, deputies and investigators have arrested Casey Dakota Vernon, 32 years of age, of 52 Elm St., Bassett, VA, in connection with this incident. Vernon was located in the 500 block of Blackberry Road, where he briefly barricaded himself inside a residence before being located hiding in the attic. A Henry County Sheriff’s Office K9 assisted deputies in safely locating and taking Vernon into custody without further incident.
This arrest stems from the investigation into the shooting that occurred outside in the parking lot of the Sportslanes Bowling Center located at 10 Koehler Rd. One individual sustained a single gunshot wound to the leg and was transported from SOVAH Health Martinsville and then to another medical facility for further treatment. The injury is believed to be non-life-threatening.
Casey Dakota Vernon
- Violation of Virginia Code Section: 18.2-51.2 – Malicious Wounding
- Violation of Virginia Code Section: 18.2-53.1 – Use a Firearm in the Commission of a felony.
- Violation of Virginia Code Section: 18.2-56.1 – Reckless Handling of a Firearm
Vernon is being held at the Henry County Adult Detention Center with No Bond.
Sheriff Wayne Davis stated: “Violent crime has no place in Henry County. If you choose to bring violence into our community, be assured that our deputies and investigators will work relentlessly to identify you, locate you, and bring you to justice. We remain committed to protecting our citizens and holding offenders fully accountable.”
The Henry County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Martinsville Police Department and the Virginia State Police for their assistance, as well as the community members and witnesses who came forward with information that helped move this investigation forward.
This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Henry County Sheriff’s Office at 276-638-8751 or Crime Stoppers at 63-CRIME (632-7463). The Crime Stoppers Program offers rewards of up to $2,500.00 for information related to a crime. The nature of the crime and the substance of the information determine the amount of reward paid.
