On a Tuesday morning in the autumn of 2020, the community of Lebanon, Virginia, was shaken by a violent act that claimed the life of a local man. William Henry Bailey, a 72-year-old male, was fatally shot on October 20, 2020, in the parking lot of the Russell County Shopping Center. The incident stemmed from a personal conflict that escalated to a tragic and public conclusion.
The events of that morning unfolded as Bailey was attempting to leave the shopping center's parking lot.
He was confronted by Brenda Jane Hicks, a 65-year-old woman from the nearby town of Castlewood. The two were reportedly estranged, and their encounter that day proved to be fatal. Hicks retrieved a firearm from her vehicle and fired at Bailey. The force of the gunshot caused Bailey's truck to continue moving, striking other vehicles before finally coming to a stop. Emergency services were called to the scene, and Bailey was transported to the Russell County Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Shortly after the shooting, Brenda Jane Hicks herself contacted 911 and admitted to her involvement in the incident. Law enforcement responded swiftly, and she was taken into custody. Hicks was subsequently charged with first-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The case then moved through the legal system as the community grappled with the sudden and public nature of the violence.
In April of 2022, the legal proceedings came to a resolution. Brenda Jane Hicks entered into a plea agreement with the prosecution. She pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder, as well as a charge of shooting in a public place causing injury. This plea brought a formal close to the case, providing a measure of legal finality for the family of William Henry Bailey and the community at large. Hicks was held at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail as she awaited further legal proceedings following her plea.
