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2 wanted for attempted murder

By Chase Purdy
Published: November 26, 2009

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The Augusta County Sheriff’s Office is seeking two men on attempted murder charges in the firing of high-powered rifle shots into a pair of Stuarts Draft homes.

Authorities on Wednesday obtained arrest warrants for James Edward Breckenridge, 24, of Stuarts Draft, and Jesse James Purcell, 19, of Grottoes, Sheriff’s Office Investigator Paul McCormick said.

Gun blasts ripped through the two homes at about 5 a.m. Monday morning. The houses, one in the 100-block of Cold Springs Road and the other in the 300-block of the Howardsville Turnpike, were less than two miles apart.

Nobody was hurt, McCormick said.

County detectives said they believe the attacks were coordinated.

The shots came from high-powered rifles, McCormick said. “We’re not dealing with handguns,” he said.

In 2007 Breckenridge was sentenced to a year in prison after he pleaded guilty in Waynesboro Circuit Court to selling and distributing marijiuana. He also pleaded guilty to drug charges in Staunton, for which he was sentenced to one year and four months in prison.

In addition to attempted murder, Breckenridge and Purcell face several firearms charges.

Authorities request that anyone with information about the incident call the Sheriff’s Office at (540) 245-5333 or Central Shenandoah Crime Stoppers at (800) 322-2017. Callers who provide information leading to an arrest could receive cash awards of up to $1,000. The information can be provided anonymously.