In the early morning hours of June 30, 2018, the life of 26-year-old Kirkman 'Kirk' Rountree was tragically cut short in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Rountree, a Caucasian male known for his passion for music and skateboarding, was fatally shot in the Court Square area. Another man was also wounded in the incident but survived. At the time of his death, Rountree was an employee at Rocktown Kitchen and had previously attended James Madison University after graduating from King's Fork High School in
Suffolk.
The investigation into the shooting led to the arrests of two individuals from Broadway, Virginia. John Doljac was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Rountree, as well as the attempted murder of the second victim and a weapons charge. His girlfriend, Kara Blankenbaker, was charged as an accessory to the murder, having allegedly driven the getaway vehicle.
Following the arrests, the legal process began to unfold. John Doljac ultimately pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree murder and was scheduled for sentencing on April 24, 2020. Kara Blankenbaker was also indicted for her alleged involvement in the crime and faced trial. The community was deeply impacted by the violent death of Kirkman Rountree, a young man remembered by friends and family as a caring individual whose laugh could light up a room.
