In what should have been a safe exchange, the life of 29-year-old Brian Christian Sledd was tragically cut short. On the evening of March 2, 2025, Sledd, a resident of Bedford County, was shot and killed in the rear parking lot of the Town of Vinton Municipal Building. This location was designated as a 'safe drop location' for child custody exchanges, equipped with surveillance cameras for added security.
Sledd was accompanying his friend, Jeffrey Alan Catron, who was engaged to the ex-wife of the alleged shooter.
The incident unfolded around 5:13 p.m. during a custody exchange involving Jordan Daniel Pierce, 45, of Salem, and his ex-partner. An argument reportedly broke out, escalating to a devastating act of violence. Pierce is accused of firing approximately 13 rounds, striking both Sledd and the 31-year-old Catron. The brutal events were witnessed by Pierce's three sons, their mother, and two Roanoke County firefighters. Both Sledd and Catron were pronounced dead at the scene from critical injuries.
Responding Vinton Police Department officers found a chaotic and heartbreaking scene. Pierce was still present and was taken into custody without incident. He has since been charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. Pierce is currently being held without bond at the Roanoke County Jail. The community was left in shock, mourning the loss of Sledd, who was remembered as a devoted husband, father, and a kind man who would do anything for anybody. He leaves behind a wife, a young son, and a stepdaughter.
