Roadside Horror: 20-Year-Old Hunter Bates Fatally Shot on I-85 in Broad Daylight
A routine drive turned into a nightmare for Hunter Bates, a 20-year-old man who tragically lost his life in a brazen, broad daylight shooting on Interstate 85 in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. The devastating incident occurred at approximately 3:47 p.m. on Thursday, August 28, near mile marker 5 on the northbound side of I-85.
Virginia State Police responded swiftly after receiving reports of a shooting. When they arrived on the scene, they found a Honda Civic that had veered off the road and landed in a culvert. The driver, later identified as Hunter Bates, was discovered unresponsive behind the wheel and was pronounced dead at the scene. The violent act has sent shockwaves through the community and prompted an urgent manhunt for the suspect.
Armed and Dangerous: 19-Year-Old Suspect on the Run Following Fatal Highway Shooting
Authorities wasted no time identifying the individual believed to be responsible for this senseless act of violence. On Friday, August 29, the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation – Appomattox Field Office announced that they had issued arrest warrants for 19-year-old Jason Allen Glidewell II, of Bracey, Virginia.
Glidewell is considered armed and dangerous, and the charges against him include second-degree murder and use of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Law enforcement officials released a description of Glidewell: a white male, approximately 5’7” tall and 160 pounds, last seen driving a silver 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche with Virginia license plate TFN 1004. He is believed to have ties to Richmond and Henrico, making those areas of high interest in the ongoing search.
A female passenger who was with Bates at the time was also taken to the hospital but has since been treated and released. The motive behind the shooting remains under investigation, and state police continue to appeal to the public for any tips or sightings that could aid in Glidewell’s apprehension.
Remembering Hunter Bates: A Life Stolen in an Instant
Hunter Bates’s sudden and violent passing has devastated his family, friends, and everyone who knew him. Described by those close to him as kind-hearted, ambitious, and full of life, his death is not just a tragic statistic—it’s a cruel loss of potential and a life with so much left to live. His loved ones are left to grieve a young man whose final moments were filled with terror and confusion.
As the investigation continues and the manhunt intensifies, those who knew Hunter are calling for justice and answers. A memorial is being planned in his honor, with his family asking for privacy as they process this unimaginable loss. The community remains on edge as law enforcement works tirelessly to bring his alleged killer to justice.
