Fatal Shooting Spree Reportedly Began Over Barking Dog
By JOHN HOPKINS, The Virginian-Pilot
July 21, 2004, CHESAPEAKE, VA -– A barking dog is believed to have sent a Chesapeake man into a violent rampage Tuesday night that ended with the killing of two neighbors and the wounding of another, police said.
Douglas Edward Campbell, 51, of the 4100 block of South Military Highway, was arrested after the shootings and faces a number of charges, including capital murder. Campbell was the next door neighbor of his victims in the Plantation Mobile Home Park, which sits off South Military Highway in an industrial area.
The victims killed were identified as Richard H. Miller, 32, and his mother, Gail E. Miller, 59. Both were residents of the mobile home park.
Gail E. Miller was set to celebrate her 60th birthday today.
Police did not release the name of the surviving victim.
“It was a longstanding dispute that got out of hand last night,’’ said Christi Golden, a police spokeswoman.
Gail Miller’s mother, who did not wish to be named, said the shootings were the result of a barking dog and a feud with a neighbor.
“He’s a dog hater and a kids hater,’’ she said as she stood outside of the home where her daughter and grandson was killed. “That is what this is all about.’’
The victims were three of about eight people in the family’s home when the next door neighbor opened fire on the group, the victims’ family members said. Others fled the small mobile home to escape.
Chesapeake police were dispatched to the mobile home park shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday and found three members of the family wounded. They were transported to area hospitals where two victims later died, police said.
Campbell’s home sits no more than a few yards away from the victim’s trailer. The suspect lived alone, his neighbors said. He faces charges of capital murder, malicious wounding, use of a firearm while committing malicious wounding, use of a firearm while committing murder.
