RIDGEWAY, Va. (rbs news now) — A 13-year-old boy has been arrested and charged in connection with the July 17 homicide of a 79-year-old man.

It was initially believed that Johnny Carson Carter, of Ridgeway, died in a hit-and-run crash.

The incident turned into a homicide investigation when authorities determined that Carter’s injuries were not consistent with being struck by a vehicle.

A medical examination later confirmed the cause of death to be a single gunshot wound, according to the Virginia State Police.

Following the discovery, troopers and special agents with the State Police, alongside investigators from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, conducted numerous interviews, examined the crime scene, canvassed the Ridgeway community, and executed multiple search warrants to gather both physical and digital evidence.

The 13-year-old boy was taken into custody on July 25 and transported to a juvenile detention center, where he is being held without bond.

The juvenile has been charged with first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

This investigation remains active.

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ORIGINAL STORY — July 17

RIDGEWAY, Va. (rbs news now) — What began as a suspected hit-and-run on July 17 is now being investigated as a homicide, according to Henry County Sheriff Wayne Davis.

The Martinsville-Henry County 9-1-1 Center received a report of a male lying in the roadway on Vista View Lane in Ridgeway at around 1:21 a.m.

Deputies from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office and troopers from the Virginia State Police responded to the scene.

“Through the course of the investigation, the focus shifted from a hit-and-run to a homicide investigation,” Sheriff Davis told rbs news now.

The State Police is now leading the investigation, with assistance from the Sheriff’s Office.

Davis said any additional information regarding the case will be provided by the State Police as the investigation continues.

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact law enforcement.

Copyright 2025 by Romero Broadcasting System, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced, rewritten, or redistributed.