William Gaulding, who was shot and killed in a hunting incident in Lunenburg County in February of 2025 | Gaulding family
In a case that has shaken Virginia's tight-knit hunting community, a 47-year-old man from Buffalo Junction has been indicted on felony homicide charges for the fatal shooting of a fellow hunter during a late-night predator hunt earlier this year. The Lunenburg County grand jury's decision on October 7 marks a significant step in the legal proceedings surrounding the death of William C. "Bug" Gaulding III, a 54-year-old Victoria resident remembered by family and friends as a generous soul and dedicated volunteer. Jonathan A. Bailey, the accused, turned himself in to authorities the day following the incident and remains in custody without bond as his arraignment looms next week.
The incident unfolded on February 17th around 9:45 p.m. on a rural stretch of Tuckers Road in the Keysville area of Lunenburg County. Both men were legally chasing coyotes and bobcats at night on private property, with permission from the landowner. Gaulding was hunting alone, positioned roughly 100 to 200 yards from Bailey, who was accompanied by another hunter. According to investigators, Bailey fired a shot that struck Gaulding, leading to his death at the scene from a single gunshot wound. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, in partnership with the Lunenburg County Sheriff's Office and the Albemarle County Police Department's Cybercrimes Unit, described the tragedy as stemming from "negligence and a disregard for safety." Key factors cited include Bailey's alleged intoxication while handling a firearm and firing across a public roadway.
Bailey is now up against four felony counts including homicide (treating the killing as involuntary manslaughter or reckless second-degree murder), use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, malicious wounding or assault in the commission of a felony, and reckless handling of a firearm. He’s also facing a pair of misdemeanors including hunting with a firearm while intoxicated and shooting across a roadway.
"This was a tragic incident that occurred due to negligence and a disregard for safety by Jonathan Bailey," said Major Ryan Shuler of the DWR in a statement released Thursday.
For those who knew Gaulding, the loss cuts deep. Dubbed "Bug" for his passion for the outdoors, the soft-spoken father and grandfather was a pillar of his community, volunteering with Warrior Hunts of Virginia—a nonprofit that organizes therapeutic hunts for veterans and youth.
"He's the definition of a big brother. Anything I needed, he came running," his sister, Brandy Gaulding Roque, told reporters in February.
The criminal charges are compounded by civil action. In April 2025, Roque filed a $10.35 million wrongful death lawsuit against Bailey in Lunenburg Circuit Court, alleging his intoxication and reckless conduct directly caused her brother's untimely death. The suit seeks compensatory damages for Gaulding's lost future earnings, medical expenses, and the profound emotional suffering inflicted on his family, demanding a jury trial to hold Bailey accountable. As executor of Gaulding's estate, Roque has vowed to pursue justice relentlessly.
No public statements have emerged from Bailey or his legal team. His arraignment is scheduled for October 14 in Lunenburg Circuit Court, where he will enter a plea and the court may set a trial date.
