Virginia Senator In Critical Condition, Son Dead

Virginia State Senator Creigh Deeds (D) is seriously injured and his son, Gus, is dead after an assault at Deeds' Milboro home early Tuesday morning. After being stabbed multiple times during the unspecified incident, Deeds was flown to the University of Virginia hospital in Charlottesville, where he remains in critical condition. While the exact timing of the incident is still being figured out by state police, they arrived at the Deeds' countryside household around 7:25 a.m. Police and paramedics found Gus, 24, with a gunshot wound, and he died on the scene. Creigh had managed to leave the house, walk down a driveway, and was then picked up by a cousin who lived nearby before being airlifted from his farm.

Police have confirmed that no one else was present at the house besides the father and son. Although they have not confirmed that Gus' gun wound was self-inflicted, they have said they're not looking for other suspects at this time.

Gus had been an off-and-on college student at William and Mary, and had withdrawn again last month. He'd also been charged with underage alcohol possession in 2009, though the case was dismissed.

"Senator Deeds was very close to his son Gus, and has taken herculean efforts to help him over the years," said Del. David J. Toscano, D-Charlottesville. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Creigh and the family at this difficult time."

Deeds, a state senator since 2001, was a candidate for the state's 2009 gubernatorial race.