On a Friday afternoon in Pulaski, Virginia, the bustling Speedway gas station on East Main Street became the scene of a violent encounter that would end in tragedy. It was approximately 2:30 PM on May 24, 2024, when officers from the Pulaski Police Department were dispatched to the location following reports of a man being shot. Upon their arrival, they discovered 40-year-old Howard Laron Love, a Black male, in the parking lot, suffering from a single gunshot wound. The suspect, it was reported, had already fled the scene.
Emergency medical services were promptly administered, and Love was rushed to LewisGale Hospital Pulaski in critical condition. Despite the efforts of the medical team, he succumbed to his injuries the following day. The investigation into his death was swift, with law enforcement quickly identifying a person of interest. The community was left on edge, awaiting answers as to who was responsible for the senseless act of violence that had claimed the life of one of their own.
Weeks later, a significant breakthrough in the case brought a sense of cautious relief. On June 14, 2024, the Pulaski Police Department announced the arrest of Brandon Lee Mattox in Columbus, Ohio. Mattox was taken into custody in connection with the fatal shooting and is facing a charge of second-degree murder. Following his arrest, he was detained at the Fairfield County Jail in Ohio as he awaited further legal proceedings. While an arrest has been made, the motive behind the shooting and the nature of the relationship, if any, between Love and Mattox have not been publicly disclosed by authorities. The investigation is considered ongoing, with the community hoping for justice for Howard Laron Love.
