Judge Declares Mistrial in Rockbridge Co. Gas Station Explosion Case
A judge has declared a mistrial in the deadly gas station explosion case in Rockbridge County.
Stay updated with breaking news from Rob Dean. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
A judge has declared a mistrial in the deadly gas station explosion case in Rockbridge County.
Phillip Ray Westmoreland, 53, of Roanoke delivered fuel to the South River Market shortly before it exploded. His jury trial, which ended with a deadlocked jury, was held in August.
A Rockbridge Circuit judge dismissed the jury Thursday. After almost two days of deliberation, it could not unanimously decide whether Phillip Westmoreland was guilty or not guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
A Rockbridge County jury began deliberating Wednesday the involuntary manslaughter case against a Roanoke man charged in the 2019 Buena Vista gas station explosion that killed four people.
Phillip Ray Westmoreland, 53, of Roanoke faces four charges of involuntary manslaughter for the deaths of three employees and one patron after the South River Market, a gas station outside