CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – An Albemarle County shooting fugitive has been charged with two counts of attempted murder for firing at police officers.
On June 20, Charlottesville police received information that 30-year-old Daquan Hoffman, who is wanted in connection to an April shooting on a felony charge of malicious wounding, was seen in the Downtown Mall area.
Upon arriving at the location and identifying the individual, Hoffman was not compliant with police attempts to take him into custody, leading to an exchange of gunfire and Hoffman fleeing the scene.
The incident led Virginia State Police to investigate, with results being turned over to the Charlottesville Commonwealth Attorney’s Office and Hoffman being charged with a warrant of attempted murder of two officers.
The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Charlottesville stated a warrant is a charging document only and not evidence of guilt, with Hoffman presumed to be innocent. The Office has no further public comment on the matter.
The officers were identified with their initials, B.L. and M.D, in a release from CPD.
“Mr. Hoffman is wanted on serious felony charges, and our priority is locating him and protecting our community,” said Michael Talbert, Captain of ACPD’s Criminal Investigations Division. “We know someone may have information that could help us locate our suspect, and we urge anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts to come forward so we can bring this case to a resolution.”
As the search for Hoffman continues, CPD and ACPD are coordinating with local, state and federal partners, including the U.S. Marshals Service.
On April 25 at 7:30 p.m., ACPD officers responded to the 600 block of Lockesley Terrance to a 911 caller in distress and observed blood on the scene and property damage from gunshots, but no victims within the residence.
Shortly after, UVA Health received a gunshot victim in serious condition, leading ACPD to obtain charges against Hoffman for malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, felon in possession of a firearm, and shooting into an occupied dwelling. The April investigation is still ongoing.
Hoffman is described as a Black male, 5 feet 7 inches, approximately 160 pounds and is considered armed and dangerous – anyone who sees him is asked to contact 911 immediately and not approach.
Anyone with information on the suspect’s whereabouts should contact Detectives Richardson and Weethee with ACPD Criminal Investigations Division at the number 434-296-5807.
