Man Arrested After Firing Gun Into the Air on Fairfax Street
Radford City Police arrested Brent J. Thompson after he brandished a firearm and fired it into the air during an altercation on Fairfax Street. Thompson was also charged with DUI and assault & battery.
On May 29, 2025, Radford City Police responded to a report of shots fired in the 500 block of Fairfax Street. Officers determined that during an altercation, a man had brandished a gun and fired it into the air. No injuries were reported.
Police located and arrested Brent J. Thompson in the 1800 block of East Main Street. Thompson was charged with brandishing a firearm, reckless handling of a firearm, driving under the influence (DUI), willful discharge of a firearm, and assault & battery. He is being held without bond at the New River Valley Regional Jail.
The incident adds to a pattern of gun-related incidents that prompted concern from residents and law enforcement throughout 2025. Radford Police Chief Jerry Holdaway had previously noted a significant spike in weapon- and gun-related crimes in the city.