In a tragic turn of events stemming from a domestic dispute, 82-year-old Margie Watkins of Axton, Virginia, lost her life in June 2024. The incident unfolded at a residence on Sandy River Road in Axton, where two other women were also shot and injured. Watkins succumbed to her injuries two days after the shooting. One of the other victims was hospitalized in the ICU, while the third was treated and released.
The suspect in the shooting was identified as 31-year-old Telvin Oshea Hairston
of Martinsville. He was apprehended by the Henry County Sheriff's Office shortly after the incident. According to warrants, Hairston broke down the door of the home and shot the three women. He reportedly admitted to the shooting, stating that his motive was related to not being allowed to see his children. One of the other victims was the mother of his children.
Following Watkins' death, Hairston's charges were upgraded to first-degree murder. His other charges included two counts of malicious wounding, three counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one count of armed burglary. In February 2025, a jury found Telvin Hairston guilty of the first-degree murder of Margie Watkins. His sentencing was scheduled for April of the same year. Hairston had a prior criminal record, including a 2016 arrest for attempted first-degree murder, for which he received a ten-year sentence with eight years suspended.
