Attempted murder charge certified for Lyndhurst man

The gun clicked but nothing happened, and Darrell Liptrap, 22, of Stuarts Draft, said he still faced the muzzle of a revolver.

On the other end of the gun, weary from the pair’s scuffle, Daniel Aaron Wade, 22, of Lyndhust, pulled the trigger again, Liptrap testified Thursday in Augusta County General District Court.

But the second time he didn’t hear anything. Everything went away.

Judge John Quigley certified an attempted murder charge against Wade in the shooting of Liptrap, a childhood friend.

Wade fired the blast at the end of a Dec. 31 party, authorities said, sending Liptrap to the hospital.

Liptrap, who was brain-dead upon arrival at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, made a miraculous recovery and regained his speech and motor functions, relatives said.

The victim’s mother, Tonya Liptrap, said her son has not returned to work yet but continues to recover.

“It’s going be a little while before we get to that place,” Liptrap said. “We actually go twice a week to rehab. I’ll tell you what, the Lord has had his hand upon him.”

During the preliminary hearing, Darrell Liptrap made his way to the front of the courtroom to testify. His shaven head revealed a long scar stretched from one side of his head to the other.

The judge, attorneys and court recorder leaned forward, straining to hear Liptrap’s soft voice as he testified.

“That’s as loud as he can speak, your honor,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Angela Landes. “Because of his injuries.”

Liptrap testified that the dispute started after a night of drinking, when Wade expressed suicidal thoughts and demanded that Liptrap hand over his revolver. Liptrap said he emptied his gun of ammunition and handed the .38 Perfect to his friend.

But Wade pried the bullets from Liptrap’s hand, the victim testified, starting a scuffle on the floor.

The gun skidded a few feet away, Liptrap said, but Wade leapt to it, stood up and pointed the muzzle just a few feet from his friend’s face.

Then, before he could stop him, Wade pulled the trigger ... once ... then again.

“He pulled it again,” Liptrap said. “I didn’t hear the shot.”

In court, Liptrap lifted a trembling hand to the front of his head and pointed to where the bullet entered.

Augusta County Sheriff’s Office Investigator A.C. Powers testified he examined the scene, finding blood, blood splatter and the six-cylinder revolver.

“The weapon itself was retrieved from the small night stand in the living area,” Powers said.

During his questioning of Wade, Powers said the alleged shooter admitted to moving the gun after the shooting.

Quigley certified charges of attempted murder, possession of a weapon by a violent felon, shooting in an occupied dwelling and use of a firearm in felony first offense.

After the hearing Wade was transported back to Middle River Regional Jail in Verona.