RIDGEWAY, VA — A tight-knit Virginia community is reeling after an unspeakable act of domestic violence that left two people dead and two young children at the center of a horrific double murder. Authorities say Joshua Corbett Coleman, 30, is facing multiple charges after allegedly killing his wife, Mandy Michelle Coleman, 22, and later fatally shooting a man he reportedly blamed for being involved in the situation.
A Domestic Dispute Turns Deadly
The tragedy unfolded on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 22, 2025, when the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received an urgent call just before 1:00 p.m. reporting a man shot in the road on Meeks Road in Ridgeway, a small community near the North Carolina border. Deputies arrived to find 68-year-old William Leroy Morey lying unresponsive in the roadway, having suffered multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Upon further investigation, deputies entered the nearby home to conduct a welfare check and made another gruesome discovery: Mandy Coleman had also been shot and killed inside the house. She had suffered a single gunshot wound to the head, and her two small children were missing.
The Search for a Killer
It wasn’t long before investigators identified Joshua Coleman, Mandy’s husband and the father of her children, as the prime suspect. According to a criminal complaint later filed, Coleman confessed to authorities that an argument with his wife over alleged infidelity escalated into violence. After confronting her, he went to another room in the house, retrieved a firearm, and shot her in the head.
But the violence didn’t end there.
Court documents reveal that after killing his wife, Coleman gathered the children, loaded them into his vehicle, and left the scene. Overcome by a mix of rage and resignation, he allegedly told police that he “knew he was going to jail” and decided to hunt down William Morey, a man who had reportedly come to the home to check on Mandy’s well-being.
When Coleman could not locate Morey at his own home, he returned to Meeks Road. There, he found Morey in the street and shot him multiple times, according to police. The full nature of Morey’s relationship with the Colemans remains unclear. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether Morey had any direct involvement in the couple’s personal disputes or if he was simply trying to offer help.
Arrest and Recovery of the Children
The search for Coleman came to a swift end at approximately 2:38 p.m., just hours after the initial 911 call. Law enforcement conducted a coordinated traffic stop and took Coleman into custody without incident. The children were found safe and unharmed in the vehicle. Police also recovered a handgun and an AR-15 rifle from the car.
Joshua Coleman is now being held without bond at the Henry County Adult Detention Center. He has been formally charged with:
- Two counts of first-degree murder
- Two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony
- One count of shooting from an occupied vehicle
- Two counts of child abuse and neglect
Community in Shock
Sheriff Wayne Davis expressed the collective heartbreak shared by local residents and the law enforcement community. In a public statement, he said:
“This is a heartbreaking and tragic situation that has deeply affected two families and our entire community. Our hearts go out to the loved ones of the victims during this incredibly difficult time.”
The Henry County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with Crime Solvers and is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for any information that could assist in the ongoing investigation.
Unanswered Questions
As investigators continue to piece together what led to the deadly chain of events, many in the community are left struggling to make sense of such a senseless act. Why Morey was targeted remains unclear. Was he truly involved in the alleged infidelity, or was he simply trying to intervene and help a young woman in distress?
Morey’s family has not publicly spoken about the incident, but neighbors and friends have described him as a kind and protective man. Mandy, just 22 years old, leaves behind two children who will now grow up without either parent.
A Community Forever Changed
This devastating case has cast a long shadow over Ridgeway and the surrounding areas of Henry County. Domestic violence advocates stress that incidents like these highlight the need for continued awareness, intervention resources, and support systems for families in crisis.
While the legal process unfolds and the investigation continues, residents are left mourning the loss of two lives — and grappling with the traumatic aftermath endured by the children who survived.
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