SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. (WRIC) — Police say a man fatally shot the boyfriend of his ex-domestic partner during an altercation at a Caroline County motel before fatally shooting himself on Interstate 95 Tuesday.
36-year-old Todd T. Houck, son of former state Senator Edd Houck, fired the shots after confronting his ex-partner and her boyfriend at the Relax Inn motel just north of Bowling Green at around 8 a.m. Tuesday, according to authorities. Houck fatally shot the boyfriend before abducting his former partner and fleeing north on I-95.
En route to the scene, deputies witnessed a male and female passenger fleeing the motel in an SUV. The suspect refused to stop and led deputies on a high-speed pursuit westbound on Route 207 and then north on I-95 at the Carmel Church interchange.
Virginia State Police joined the pursuit, and eventually helped bring the suspect to a stop near the 124 mile marker in Spotsylvania County. Deputies reported they heard a gunshot inside the car, and say Houck was pronounced dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
No shots were fired by law enforcement.
This was not T. Houck’s first run-in with law enforcement.
In May of 2014, he was arrested and charged with grand larceny for a burglary that took place on May 26 at the IHOP restaurant in the 2800 block of Plank Road. He served a year and four months in jail before a judge granted him with time served on August 3 of this year.
On August 31, however, an additional felony charge of statutory burglary was brought on Houck in relation to the May 2014 incident. During a September 2 bond hearing, Houck was released on $1,500 bond under the condition that he remained under pre-trial supervision and on house release, with the exception of leaving home for work, medical and legal appointments and court appearances.
When Houck’s parents realized he was gone Tuesday morning, they contacted their son’s defense attorney who then notified the judge.
It was hours later when they learned of the deadly events that transpired.
“It’s hard to believe it’s your neighbor ya know,” said Aaron Owens, who’s lived next door to the Houck’s for five years. “We’re kind of close neighbors.”
“It’s shocking, because you don’t know realize how small the world is and how that could have been anyone over there.”
The victim who Houck shot and killed at the motel has been identified as Jeremy Gift.
A neighbor at the motel dialed 911 when they heard an argument. It was while she was on the phone with 911 when she heard gunfire.
Authorities say the woman that was abducted wasn’t harmed.
I-95 north was shut down for several hours Tuesday morning before reopening later in the afternoon.
