October 23rd Set for Post-Discovery Motions Hearing in Bradley Treece Gunfire Incident With Neighbors

The evolving Criminal charges, along with related Civil case motions, arising from an October 2025 gun-wielding incident involving Bradley Treece and his adjacent neighbors on the 200 block of River Manor Drive in Front Royal will be heard in Warren County Circuit Court on October 23rd on the 9 a.m. docket. Treece, 60, was in Circuit Court with his attorney David Downes on Friday, September 25. His involved neighbors, a Jewish couple Matthew and Sue Ellen Stroud, were not required to be in court for Friday’s motions hearing and did not appear to be.

As the criminal level of the primary firearms charge against Treece was initially dropped from the felony level to misdemeanor at the request of the prosecution as subsequent details were uncovered, the case was initially heard in Warren County General District Court. But as the case has progressed with defendant appeals and questions on potential felony convictions emerging, it has transferred to Circuit Court.

Judge William W. Sharpe heard the brief legal update reviewed between defense counsel Downes and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert Burke on Friday’s Circuit Court morning docket. Judge Sharpe also set a deadline of October 20th for the filing of Discovery motions related to arguments that could be heard three days later.

The Warren County Courthouse has seen the Bradley Treece prosecutions evolve from General District Court to Circuit Court through Appeals Processes. Royal Examiner File Photo Roger Bianchini

Background

Readers may recall earlier reporting on the incident and the Treece arrest. The Strouds called for assistance as the incident that began with them in their car at their mailbox, which previous testimony has indicated Treece approached on foot, progressed. Treece is alleged to have said to Stroud during the October 2025 incident that he would “kill you (F-expletive deleted) Jews” before firing off multiple rounds from a handgun.

The shots fired by Treece, estimated at 20 to 30 by complainant Matthew Stroud, were fired after Treece returned to his property and residence. It is from there that gunfire became involved in the incident. In earlier hearings defense counsel has pointed out that gunfire occurred about 200 yards from the Strouds location on their property. It will likely remain a key point of contention between the prosecution and defense as to whether any shots were actually fired in the Strouds direction or at their home while they were in it.

Appearing to be based largely on Mrs. Stroud’s account in General District Court it was ruled that Treece’s described conduct in the 2025 incident constituted a misdemeanor hate crime motivated by Mrs. Stroud’s Jewish faith. Consequently, Judge Anne Williams sentenced Treece to 12 months in jail, with all but a mandatory six months suspended on that Misdemeanor Hate Crime conviction.

Treece has appealed all adverse dispositions to the Warren County Circuit Court, including the two protective-order convictions. Those misdemeanor cases have therefore proceeded to Circuit Court.

Treece has remained free on bond during his appeal process begun at the General District Court level and now being heard in Circuit Court. He has had very precise instructions on where and in what context he may be on his property due to its close proximity to the Stroud’s property. In one General District Court hearing the Court found the evidence sufficient to convict Treece of two Protective Order violations and sentenced him to time served.

RSW Jail mugshot of Bradley Treece taken upon his October 2025 arrest following the incident with his neighbors.

Eventually multiple law enforcement jurisdictions were involved in the response headed by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office during which Treece is said to have initially refused to come out of his residence. According to court records he was struck in the leg by a non-lethal projectile fired by a responding officer that was said to have caused quite a bit of bleeding as the incident unfolded. He was arrested about 10:19 p.m. the evening of the event, without incident. Law enforcement’s response began at 5:55 p.m.

As to potential underlying factors cited in an earlier hearing in General District Court, defense counsel Downes told the court that the involved parties had previously been engaged in civil litigation concerning easement disputes between the neighboring property owners before the incident leading to the criminal charges occurred.

And on October 23, 2026, the next chapter in this evolving legal situation will begin to unfold during the Circuit Court’s 9 a.m. morning docket.