Creigh Deeds, Virginia state senator, hospitalized after assault

A Virginia state senator who twice ran unsuccessfully for top state offices was critically stabbed in his home where a second person was found dead, authorities said Tuesday.

Sen. Creigh Deeds, a Democrat who ran for governor and attorney general, was found stabbed in his home in Bath County, Va.

His son, Gus, was found in the house dead from a gunshot wound, law enforcement sources told the Richmond Times-Dispatch, which first reported on the incident.

Deeds is being treated at the University of Virginia Medical Center. A spokeswoman told the Los Angeles Times that the lawmaker is in critical condition and would not discuss any details.

In a news release, Virginia State Police said they responded to Deeds’ home in the community of Millboro at 7:25 a.m.

“Virginia State Police are on the scene of an assault of a state legislator that took place Tuesday morning,” the news release said. “Senator Creigh Deeds has been transported to U. Va. Hospital in Charlottesville for treatment of serious injuries sustained in the assault at his residence.”

Police did not identify the body of the person found at the residence, but said “a second individual at the residence is deceased.”

Deeds, 55, has served in the state Senate since 2001, representing Bath County. He lost two statewide contests to Republican Bob McDonnell, for attorney general in 2005 and for governor in 2009.

“In this tough and sad time, our thoughts and prayers are with the Deeds family,” McDonnell said in a statement. “The news from this morning is utterly heartbreaking.”

There was no immediate word on any assailant. Officials were sorting out the sequence of events and planned a news conference later in the day.

Deeds and his first wife, Pamela Kay Miller, had four children: Amanda, Rebecca, Gus and Susannah. Deeds and Miller divorced in 2010.

Deeds married Siobhan Gilbride Lomax of Lexington in June 2012.

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