JAMES CITY COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) — Joseph Paul Adams had already pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated malicous wounding and several other charges in connection to what prosecutors described as a Oct. 5, 2024 road rage incident with a mother and son being shot as he sat in silence in a James City County courtroom Monday as family members and victims read impact statements.
Adams, 45, after saying “I apologize to the victims,” was given two life sentences for the aggravated malicious wounding charges, as well as $5,591 restitution. He was also sentenced on five other charges he pleaded guilty to, including four firearms-related charges, and malicious shooting/throwing at a train or car.
The incident happened when a vehicle carrying three people turned from Centerville Road onto Monticello Avenue. That is were police say Adams fired five shots into the vehicle. The driver, Molly Haskin, was hit in the face by a bullet. On the stand, she told the court how she repeated to herself, “I will not die … I will not die … I will not die,” as she was airlifted to a hospital in Richmond.
Her son took the stand, recalling the incident by talking about the pain he suffered after being struck in both his arms by three bullets, as well as the trauma of seeing his mother being shot in the face.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Nate Green asked the judge to go above the guidelines and sentence Adams to a maximum sentence, calling Adams’ actions an act of “pure evil.”
Defense attorney Rob Jones asked the judge for a lighter sentencing, saying that Adams only had two previous misdemeanors and described Adams as a functioning alcoholic with mental illness and substance abuse issues.
The defense never challenged the evidence or the facts, including that alcohol was a factor in the incident.
After court, Keith Haskin, the father and husband of the victims in this case, had no comment. But earlier inside the courtroom on the stand, he was very thankful that his family was still alive, saying, quote, by the grace of God, he didn’t kill them.
The shooting, which led to life-threatening injuries to the mother and non life-threatening injuries to the son, was said to have taken place just after 3 p.m. at the intersection of Centerville Road and Powhatan Secondary. The victim was then able to drive to the intersection of Monticello Avenue and Greensprings Plantation Drive, where first responders started lifesaving medical treatment.
Shortly after the shooting, Adams’ vehicle was reported to be onboard the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry. Adams was then taken into custody without incident once the ferry came to dock at Surry County.
