Bentonville man arrested after in-town shooting incidents Wednesday night

On Wednesday, March 24^th at 9:13 p.m., Front Royal Police Department responded to a report of multiple gunshots fired in the 800 Block of N. Royal Avenue. On arrival, officers learned that a male had exited the Knotty Pine Restaurant and fired multiple rounds into the air and had left the area. A short time later, officers were requested in the 200 block of Manassas Avenue for multiple shots fired. Witnesses were able to give a description of the suspects’ vehicle as both Front Royal Police Department and Warren County Sheriff’s Office converged on the area.

The vehicle was located by law enforcement and when the officers activated their emergency equipment, the vehicle failed to stop and a short pursuit ensued. The suspect vehicle crashed into a home in the 100 block of Polk Avenue. There were no injuries reported because of this incident.

Police identified the suspect as 33-year-old Bentonville resident, Christopher Rhoades. Rhoades was arrested on scene and transported to the Rappahannock Shenandoah Warren (RSW) Regional Jail. Rhoades is being held without bond with a scheduled court date of April 6, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. in Warren County General District Court. We would like to thank the Warren County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this incident.

Rhoades has been charged with the following:

• 18.2-286 Shooting in or across road
• 18.2-56.1 Reckless handling of a firearm
• 18.2-266 Driving a motor vehicle while intoxicated
• 46.2-817 Eluding Police

Anyone with any further information is asked to contact Front Royal Police Officer Z. Wallace at (540) 635-2111 or by email at zwallace@frontroyalva.com.

Christopher Allen Rhoades of Jones Farm Road, Bentonville, Va. – Courtesy Photo RSW Jail

Name: Christopher Allen Rhoades
Description: 6’02” white male, brown hair, and blond hair

(From a release by FRPD)