Drive-by shooting trial date set

By Amanda Stewart

Published: December 2, 2008

An April trial date has been set for the Dale City man charged in a September drive-by shooting that killed a 25-year-old Davis Ford area man.

A grand jury in Prince William Circuit Court this week indicted Jerome Anderson Hodge, 25, on charges of felony murder, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and seven counts of discharging a firearm within a vehicle for the Sept. 15 shooting death of Corey Best.

Hodge is scheduled to stand trial before a jury on April 7.

A grand jury indictment means prosecutors have sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial. It is not a finding of guilt or innocence.

Police said Best was shot and killed in front of his house in the 11000 block of Bacon Race Road shortly before 4 a.m. Sept. 15.

Police were responding to a report of gunshots in the area when they found Best, who died at the scene. He had been shot several times in the upper body, police said.

Hodge was arrested the next day during a traffic stop in Stafford County.

If convicted of felony murder, Hodge faces up to 40 years in prison. Each charge of discharging a firearm within a vehicle is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Staff writer Amanda Stewart can be reached at 703-878-8014.