ACCOMACK COUNTY, Va. — A 19-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the deadly shooting of Miguel Ethan Soto Trader, 25, outside a Royal Farms convenience store in Accomack County, authorities announced Thursday. The fatal incident occurred late Tuesday night, September 10, 2025, and has left the community of New Church shaken.
According to the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched at approximately 11:24 p.m. to the Royal Farms located at 33620 Chincoteague Road after the county’s 9-1-1 Center received multiple reports of gunfire. When officers arrived, they found an unresponsive male suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Despite life-saving efforts, the victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The victim has since been identified as 25-year-old Miguel Ethan Soto Trader of New Church. His body was transported to the Norfolk Medical Examiner’s Office, where an autopsy will be conducted to determine the official cause and manner of death.
An immediate investigation by the Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from partner agencies, quickly identified a suspect. By Wednesday, authorities had obtained warrants for David Dean Bowden Jr., 19, also of New Church. Bowden was taken into custody and is currently being held at the Accomack County Jail without bond.
He faces multiple charges, including:
- Second-degree murder
- Discharge of a firearm within a building
- Use of a firearm in the commission of a felony
- Unlawful wounding
Sheriff Todd Wessells expressed gratitude for the swift cooperation among responding agencies, noting that the Virginia State Police, Wallops Flight Facility Fire Department, Oak Hall Rescue, and the Accomack County Department of Public Safety all provided critical support in both the emergency response and ongoing investigation.
“This was a tragic act of violence that has left a family grieving and a community seeking answers,” Sheriff Wessells said in a statement. “Our deputies and partner agencies worked tirelessly to identify and apprehend the suspect in order to bring some measure of justice to the victim’s loved ones.”
Residents in the New Church area described the incident as deeply unsettling, noting that while Royal Farms is a popular gathering spot for travelers and locals alike, violent incidents of this magnitude are rare in the community.
Authorities emphasized that the investigation remains active. Detectives are continuing to gather evidence, review surveillance footage, and speak with witnesses to piece together the events leading up to the shooting.
The Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with information about the shooting—or any other crime in the area—to contact them at (757) 787-1131 or (757) 824-5666. Tips can also be submitted online through the department’s official website at accomackcountysheriffsoffice.org.
As the case moves forward, Bowden is expected to appear in court for arraignment in the coming days. Meanwhile, Miguel Ethan Soto Trader’s death marks yet another tragic instance of gun violence in Virginia’s Eastern Shore, a region where officials continue to stress the importance of community engagement and vigilance in preventing future acts of violence.
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