Chesterfield man charged in shooting death of wife
TL;DR: A 70-year-old Chesterfield man has been charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of his wife on Beachcrest Terrace, with court documents showing inconsistencies in his account of the incident.
Quick facts
- Who: Milton Langhorne, 70, charged in the death of his wife Deloris Langhorne, 70
- What: Second-degree murder charge; fatal shooting of wife
- When: July 22, 2026 (incident); charged and jailed afterward
- Where: Beachcrest Terrace, Chesterfield County
The story
On July 22, police responded to a home on Beachcrest Terrace after a report of a shooting. They found 70-year-old Deloris Langhorne with a gunshot wound to her arm. According to court documents, the bullet exited her arm and entered her chest. She was transported to Chipham Hospital, where she died during surgery.
At the scene, officers interviewed Deloris's daughter, who told them she was working in the home office when she heard multiple gunshots. She went into the kitchen and found her mother lying on the floor, then called 911. Minutes later, her husband Milton Langhorne came downstairs.
When interviewed by police, Milton Langhorne said he was upstairs when he heard a single gunshot. He stated he then came downstairs and asked his wife "what had she done." This account conflicted with the daughter's description of hearing multiple gunshots and the sequence of events.
Court documents detail physical evidence recovered by investigators: damaged kitchen cabinets, a bullet jacket behind a cabinet door, and another bullet jacket found in Langhorne's upstairs bedroom. Police noted that a firearm was normally kept upstairs in his bedroom dresser drawer.
Langhorne is charged with second-degree murder and is being held without bond at the Chesterfield County Jail. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on August 20.
Key players
- Milton Langhorne: Defendant, charged with second-degree murder
- Deloris Langhorne: Victim, deceased
- Chesterfield County Police: Investigating agency
Key dates
- 2026-07-22: Shooting incident on Beachcrest Terrace
- 2026-08-20: Preliminary hearing scheduled
Why it matters: The case highlights how investigative discrepancies and physical evidence can contradict a defendant's account in a domestic incident. The preliminary hearing on August 20 will be a key step in determining whether charges will proceed to trial.
Places
Development timeline
- 2026-07-22Shooting on Beachcrest Terrace: Police respond to report of shooting; Deloris Langhorne found with gunshot wound to arm and chest, transported to hospital [[source]](https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/chesterfield-county/milton-langhorne-court-documents-july-27-2026)
- 2026-07-22Deloris Langhorne dies: Victim dies during surgery at Chippenham Hospital [[source]](https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/chesterfield-county/milton-langhorne-court-documents-july-27-2026)
- 2026-07-23Milton Langhorne arrested: Charged with second-degree murder following investigation; held without bond [[source]](https://www.12onyourside.com/2026/07/23/husband-arrested-after-wife-shot-killed-chesterfield/)
- 2026-07-27Court documents released: Details of investigation revealed, showing discrepancies between defendant's account and witness testimony [[source]](https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/chesterfield-county/milton-langhorne-court-documents-july-27-2026)
- 2026-08-20Preliminary hearing: Scheduled court appearance for Milton Langhorne [[source]](https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/chesterfield-county/milton-langhorne-court-documents-july-27-2026)
Related links
Read the original at Google News: Chesterfield County →
Sources
- WTVR: Court documents unveil new details after Chesterfield man charged in shooting death of wife
- WRIC ABC 8News: Husband charged with second-degree murder after wife shot, killed in Chesterfield
- 12 On Your Side: Husband arrested after wife shot, killed in Chesterfield
- Husband charged in death of 70-year-old Chesterfield woman