Man Faces Attempted Murder, Gun Charges After Police Chase

BRISTOL, Va. – A man waved a pistol at employees of the IHOP restaurant near Interstate 81’s Exit 7 and then shot at a car while making his getaway Monday afternoon, according to police.

Austin Wade Huggins, 24, of Abingdon, Va., pointed the pistol at the restaurant manager, according to a news release from the Bristol Virginia Police Department.

Police got the call at about 4:15 p.m.

Police said they believe Huggins was a disgruntled employee or former employee of IHOP.

No injuries were reported by police.

Accompanying Huggins in his blue Chevrolet sedan was friend, Ronnie Bufford Rose, 30, who was later arrested on six counts of credit card theft out of Wise County, Va., police said.

Minutes after Huggins’ departure from IHOP, authorities received calls of a car being shot at near Exit 7. The female driver escaped unharmed.

After a brief chase, the Virginia State Police stopped Huggins at Goose Pimple Junction in Washington County, Va.

Huggins, who was being held Monday night in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail in Abingdon, has been charged with attempted second degree murder, shooting from a vehicle, shooting at an occupied vehicle, brandishing a firearm and assault by Bristol police and with driving under the influence by the Virginia State Police.