Suspect in NK shooting, standoff facing charges

Two felony charges and one misdemeanor are pending against the New Kent County man taken into custody following last Sunday night’s shooting incident and standoff with authorities at the man’s Lanexa home.

Upon his release from Central State Hospital in Petersburg, Brett Jay Hahn, 52, of the 13000 block of Hidden Drive, is to be charged with one felony count each of shooting within an occupied dwelling and attempted malicious wounding along with misdemeanor domestic assault and battery, said New Kent sheriff’s detective Joey McLaughlin on Wednesday. Hahn is undergoing a mental evaluation at the hospital.

Hahn allegedly used a high-power, 303 British rifle to fire four shots at his elderly father, McLaughlin said. Melvin Hahn, who is in his seventies, dodged the bullets, but sustained minor cuts from shrapnel and debris that exploded when bullets impacted nearby walls, a door, and items inside the house.

McLaughlin said one bullet that missed the elder Hahn passed through a bedroom dresser and wall before lodging in a wall on the opposite side of the house. Other bullets shattered a door and destroyed a television set.

The younger Hahn suffers from several medical problems, and that combined with medication being taken probably impaired the suspect’s aim, said Sheriff F.W. “Wakie” Howard Jr.

The incident, Howard said, began as an argument between the two men. The father fled the house after the shooting and called 911. Sheriff’s dispatch received the call around 10:40 p.m., and within four minutes, New Kent deputies were on scene.

Sheriff’s personnel with State Police assistance attempted several times but to no avail to establish contact with the shooter via land line phone, cell phone, and bullhorn. A standoff ensued until shortly after 12:30 a.m. when a New Kent SWAT team entered the house.

“We didn’t know what his condition was so at that time we determined we needed to make entry,” Howard said.

The SWAT team took the suspect into custody without further incident. No other shots were fired, and there were no further injuries.

Howard said the suspect had several firearms inside the house, but all shots were fired from the rifle.

The father and son lived alone in the house. McLaughlin said an emergency protective order has also been filed in the case.