Virginia State Sen. Creigh Deeds was stabbed and critically wounded on Tuesday by an attack at around 7 a.m. at his home in Milboro Bath County, UPI.com reported. His son Austin "Gus" Deeds" later died from apparent self-inflicted gun shot wounds in the house, Virginia State Police said. Senator Deeds was stabbed multiple times in the head and upper torso before the 24-year-old shot himself to death.
"The news from this morning is utterly heartbreaking. Creigh Deeds is an exceptional and committed public servant who has always done what he believes is best for Virginia and who gives his all to public service," said Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, who defeated Deeds in 2009.
The 24-year-old died at the scene, police said.
"When a tragedy falls on somebody's family like this, it's just a cause for great sorrow. I urge all Virginians today to join me in praying for a full and complete recovery for Creigh and for many more years of his public service to the commonwealth. At this moment, our state unites in prayer for Creigh Deeds and his family," McDonnell added.
Police said that they were not looking for any additional suspects in the attack as they preliminary results suggest that Gus had stabbed his father.
Gus Deeds reportedly "underwent a mental health evaluation at a hospital on Monday, but was released due to a lack of psychiatric beds in the area," BBC News reported.
The 55-year-old state senator, a Democrat elected in 2001, was flown to the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville on Tuesday afternoon, BBC News also reported.
Corrine Geller, the Virginia state police spokeswoman, said that the state senator "been able to talk with investigators and our troopers" about the incident, despite his injuries, news reports said.
"Senator Deeds was very close to his son Gus, and has taken herculean efforts to help him over the years," said David Toscano who was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2005, as reported by CNN.
