Keyes found guilty
After a three-day trial, and a few hours of deliberation, a Charlottesville jury found Tadashi Keyes guilty on September 28 of first degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The victim, 36-year-old Eldridge Smith, died on January 28, 2023, after being shot in his vehicle. Smith was a member of B.U.C.K. Squad, a local gun violence interruption group, and a motive for the shooting was not made clear by either the defense or prosecution. Keyes’ sentencing is scheduled for January 24, 2024, with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Open school board seat
Applications for the Albemarle County School Board Rio Magisterial District seat are open through Friday, October 13. The vacancy is the result of Katrina Callsen’s resignation to focus on her likely election to the Virginia House of Delegates. Interviews of applicants will be conducted at a special school board public meeting later this month, with a meeting on the appointment set for November 9.
Voting deadlines
Election day is Tuesday, November 7, and several deadlines are approaching. Virginia residents have until October 16 to register to vote or update an existing registration. Same-day voter registration is available through November 7, but will require the use of a provisional ballot. For those looking to vote by mail, the deadline to request a ballot is October 27. More information about the election can be found at elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/calendars-schedules/upcoming-elections.html
