On a tragic afternoon in Covington, Virginia, the life of 64-year-old Randall Lee 'Randy' Paxton, a white male, was cut short in a burst of violence stemming from a domestic dispute. The fatal encounter occurred on March 14, 2022, at the Covington Farm and Fuel store where Paxton was an employee. Known as a dedicated truck driver and an avid outdoorsman, his sudden death sent ripples of shock and grief through the close-knit community.
The incident began to unfold when Paxton's stepson,
42-year-old Toney S. Poulston Jr., entered the store and engaged in a heated argument with him. The altercation quickly escalated, culminating in Poulston fatally shooting his stepfather. Paxton's wife and Poulston's mother, Jill Paxton, who also worked at the store, was present during the incident but was not physically harmed.
Law enforcement officers from the Covington Police Department and the Alleghany County Sheriff's Office responded to reports of Poulston's erratic behavior inside the store. As they arrived, they were met by an armed Poulston exiting the establishment. An exchange of gunfire ensued, during which Poulston was killed. Tragically, Covington Police Officer Caleb Ogilvie was also fatally wounded in the shootout.
In the aftermath, the Virginia State Police took over the investigation into the deaths of both Randall Paxton and Officer Ogilvie. The community mourned the loss of the two men, holding funeral services in the days that followed. Donations were collected to support Paxton's widow as she faced the profound loss of her husband and son in the same devastating event. Because the suspect, Toney S. Poulston Jr., died at the scene, there were no subsequent arrests or trials.
