Man guilty in Charlottesville teen’s fatal shooting

A Louisa County man could face up to 27 years in prison after being convicted Tuesday of killing a Charlottesville teenager last year.
As part of an agreement, Daniel Lee Dove, 29, pleaded guilty Tuesday morning to second-degree murder, abduction, use of a firearm in the commission of a murder, use of a firearm in the commission of an abduction and three counts of shooting in an occupied dwelling, Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney Denise Lunsford confirmed.

Authorities have said Dove shot 17-year-old Emilio Morales on Sept. 30, 2008, in a Commonwealth Drive apartment. During a preliminary hearing earlier this year, Morales’ brother testified that an armed man identified as Dove tried to rob him outside the apartment. Morales’ brother told Dove that he didn’t have any money.
The incident moved inside, authorities said, where Dove fired several shots in the apartment. Witnesses testified during the preliminary hearing that Dove knocked the original victim unconscious before firing a shot through a door that Morales was closing.
Defense attorney David Baugh declined to comment on the case until Dove is sentenced Dec. 14. According to court records, Dove could face 16 years and two months to 27 years in prison.

He initially was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the incident, but Lunsford’s office later changed the charge to capital murder because it happened during the commission of an attempted robbery. The charge was changed back to first-degree murder after authorities said they discovered additional information.
According to court records, Dove also was facing a robbery charge and additional firearms charges in Albemarle Circuit Court. The status of those charges was not immediately available.
Dove was scheduled to have a five-day jury trial starting Nov. 1. He remains in the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.