LYNCHBURG, Va. (WDBJ) – A man has been charged with allegedly fatally shooting the mother of his child and a 19-year-old man in Lynchburg, according to Lynchburg police.

Police said officers were dispatched to a malicious wounding incident in the 100 block of Fairlea Court on Monday after receiving reports of a man shot.

The victim was identified as Micah Cash Gaudio, 19, who was found in his car parked in his driveway. Police attempted life-saving measures, but Gaudio was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gaudio’s stepfather provided officers with home security footage showing a light-skinned black man getting out of a silver Hyundai and approaching Gaudio in the driveway. The footage shows Gaudio confronting the man and asking why he is in his driveway before the man shoots Gaudio at least nine times. Police determined that the man was holding a small child when he shot Gaudio.

The shooter was identified as Nathaniel Lee Pridemore and was later located by police with a black handgun in his waistband and taken into custody. Pridemore was then questioned about the whereabouts of Christina Hamilton, the owner of the silver Hyundai he was driving.

Hamilton’s parents had expressed that they were unable to contact her and police conducted a welfare check, which resulted in her being found dead on a bed with a single gunshot wound to the head. Police believe she was shot in front of Gaudio.

Pridemore and Hamilton were the parents of the three-year-old who was held during the shooting; According to police, the child is safe.

Nathaniel Lee Pridemore, 33, of Lynchburg, was arrested and faces the following charges:

• Second degree murder
• Use of a firearm
• Endangerment of children through criminal acts
• Discharge of a firearm in the city
• Discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle
• Reckless handling
• Convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

Police say they are not seeking any additional persons of interest and there is no ongoing threat to the community. But they are asking people living in the area to check their security cameras and report any information to police. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Dubie at (434) 455-6102 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 798-5900.

Pridemore is being held without bail at the Blue Ridge Regional Jail.

Gaudio was a recent graduate of Liberty Christian Academy, which issued a statement following his death:

“In recent days the LCA family has suffered the loss of two of its own members, Senior Will Bettenhausen and 2024 graduate Cash Gaudio. Will and Cash were young men who loved the Lord and life and left a lasting impression on those they came into contact with. Although all of us at LCA are sorry, we are comforted to know that they are with the Lord and that we will see them again as believers in heaven.

Out of respect for the families, LCA and Liberty University will not be conducting public interviews at this time, but ask for the community’s prayers and support as we comfort all who mourn. We ask that you pray for the families and friends of these young men and for our LCA staff. We know that God’s grace is sufficient and that He is our refuge and strength in our darkest times.

“On behalf of LCA and the entire Liberty community, I ask that we pray together for the Bettenhausen and Gaudio families and trust in the peace and comfort that only Jesus Christ can offer to grieving hearts,” said Liberty Chancellor Jonathan Falwell. “As we mourn the loss of Will Bettenhausen and Cash Gaudio, we must hold fast to the hope that lies in Jesus Christ and the gospel. These young men knew and loved the Lord. While we mourn her absence, we are comforted to know that we will see her again on this final day.”

“Our hearts are broken as we mourn the loss of Will Bettenhausen and Cash Gaudio, two young men who deeply touched our LCA family. During this time of grief, we ask for continued prayers and support for their grieving families,” said Jeff Capps, LCA principal. “We find strength and comfort in knowing that Jesus Christ will never leave us or forsake us, even in the most inexplicable moments of tragedy and heartache, he is always with us.”

There are two special services this week: A night of prayer and worship will be held this evening, Tuesday, at 7 p.m. at The Hope Company, 742 Leesville Road. LCA and the TRBC High School Department are co-hosting a worship, prayer and reflection service tomorrow evening, Wednesday, at 7:15 p.m. at the TRBC Worship Center. Both services are open to students, parents and the LCA community.

Since Monday, the Thomas Road Baptist Church Counseling Office, in collaboration with the LCA team, has been providing support to students, staff and anyone who needs to speak to someone. The office can be reached at (434) 239-9281. Impact Living Services has also offered services and can be reached at (434) 533-1088.”

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