Teen convicted in I-64 shooting seeks appeal

A 16-year-old Crozet boy convicted in the Interstate 64 shootings is seeking an appeal.

Defense attorney Dana Slater confirmed Thursday that Brandon Dawson’s case would move up to Albemarle Circuit Court. Thursday was the deadline for a decision on an appeal.

Dawson was sentenced last week to an indeterminate amount of time at a state juvenile facility. The Department of Juvenile Justice can determine how long it will hold Dawson, who could be in state custody until he is 21 years old.

Dawson pleaded guilty last month to five counts of maliciously shooting at an occupied vehicle. He was sentenced on those charges and two charges from Waynesboro — maliciously shooting into an occupied dwelling and felonious destruction of property.

In the early morning of March 27, police reported shots fired at vehicles on I-64 and at homes in Albemarle. Two people were slightly injured. Waynesboro authorities also reported shots fired at a car, home and bank that same day.

A prosecutor has previously said that Dawson had admitted to firing one shot off the overpass and two shots at homes in Albemarle.

Slater and a probation supervisor recommended that Dawson be admitted into a 180-day treatment program at Blue Ridge Detention Center; Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Darby Lowe said she thought Dawson could try the program as long as he remained on good behavior.

However, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Judge Susan L. Whitlock said she thought Dawson wouldn’t be a fit for the program because of the number and severity of his charges.