Leonard Dodson

Leonard E. Dodson (July 5, 1920 – January 1, 1956) was a 35-year-old carpenter who was drunkenly shot to death by 45-year-old sore loser Robert B. Rueger after delivering a beatdown to Rueger at Rueger's Franconia farm on Beulah Road on January 1, 1956.[1]

Dodson and his 29-year-old cousin James E. Love had been drinking beer earlier that evening and, because mixing alcohol and firearms is always an excellent choice, decided to attend a turkey shoot Rueger was hosting. After drinking more whiskey and celebrating the New year with gunfire, Dodson and Rueger somehow got into a fight. During the fight, Rueger drew a .45 automatic pistol, which Love wrestled away from him and hid nearby. Mrs. Dodson attempted to break up the fight with a shotgun, which Love took away from her.[2]

Love and Dodson then decided to leave the party, but Love's shitmobile wouldn't start, so Dodson got out to push. At that point, Rueger came out of his house, having retrieved his pistol from where Love had hidden it and fired a single shot at Love, grazing Love's scalp. Rueger then used the remaining six shots on Dodson, firing the last three into the prostrate man just in time for Fairfax County Police Private Robert A. Pillow to watch.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Fatal Melee Ends Fete in Fairfax." The Washington Post and Times Herald (1954-1959): 1. Jan 02 1956. ProQuest. Web. 1 Jan. 2018.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Lt. Cmdr. Reuger Held for Grand Jury Hearing." The Washington Post and Times Herald (1954-1959): 42. Jan 12 1956. ProQuest. Web. 1 Jan. 2018 .