STAUNTON – A Mount Solon man who shot two people at a party last summer in Augusta County was convicted Friday on two felony charges. He now faces up to 23 years in prison.
Isaiah J. Cassell, 22, entered Alford pleas in Augusta County Circuit Court to charges of malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, admitting there was enough evidence for a guilty verdict while maintaining his innocence. An Alford plea has the same impact as a guilty plea.
Augusta County Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Alexandra Meador said on the night of June 22 that deputies responded to 17 Buffalo Gap Highway in Churchville on a report of gunshots, where they found two female teenagers, ages 17 and 19, wounded. Both victims were shot in the leg.
Meador said a carload of individuals, which included Cassell and his cousin, Matthew T. Cassell, 20, of West Augusta, arrived at the party in a black Ford Mustang before the shooting. But she said a man hosting the party told a person in the group that Isaiah Cassell wasn’t welcome and that they should all leave.
Meador said when word got back to Isaiah Cassell that his group was asked to leave the party, he became angry. Meador said an argument between a female in Cassell’s group and the 17-year-old teen who was eventually shot also broke out as the incident unfolded.
“There was lots of yelling back and forth,” Meador said.
Isaiah Cassell got back into the Mustang, where Meador said he grabbed his cousin’s handgun and chambered a round. Multiple people at the party began screaming that Cassell had a gun, Meador said in court. The man hosting the party went inside his home and armed himself in an act of self-defense, the prosecutor said.
With Matthew Cassell allegedly driving, Meador said the car made a U-turn in a nearby parking lot and came back past the party, where Isaiah Cassell leaned out of the vehicle and fired multiple gunshots into a crowd, striking the two teens.
The 19-year-old’s injuries were more severe, Meador said. The victim’s tibia was completely shattered, and a long metal rod had to be placed in her leg. Meador said the teen had significant scarring and continues to deal with medical issues because of the wound.
The Augusta County Sheriff’s Office seized a .45-caliber handgun along with three spent shell casings. Eight unspent rounds were also collected from two magazines, according to court records.
Although Cassell shot two people, as part of the plea agreement, he only pleaded to a set of charges about one victim. Meador said the two shooting victims will speak at his sentencing hearing early next year.
“Both victims will be heard during sentencing” as part of the plea agreement, Meador noted.
Three additional charges will not be prosecuted.
Defense attorney Mike Hallahan said in court that Isaiah Cassell entered an Alford plea to the charges because he felt he was acting in self-defense on the night of the shooting after the person hosting the party had armed himself.
“Because my client felt like his life was in danger,” Hallahan said.
Isaiah Cassell will be sentenced on Feb. 6.
Matthew Cassell is still facing accessory charges along with two gun charges.
Both men remain incarcerated at Middle River Regional Jail in Verona.
