Bristol, Virginia man pleads guilty to murder in 2022

BRISTOL, Va. — A Bristol, Virginia, man accused of killing one person and seriously injuring another with a firearm in 2022 has pleaded guilty to criminal charges.

Wynston Scott Rhinehart, 27, was scheduled to appear in court this week in connection with the death of Christopher Carter, 29, for a jury trial on a charge of first-degree murder and other charges. Authorities said Rhinehart also injured the deceased victim’s brother, 24-year-old D’Quares Carter.

On Tuesday, Rhinehart pleaded guilty to an amended charge of second-degree murder, aggravated intentional wounding, use of a firearm to commit murder and use of a firearm to commit aggravated intentional wounding , according to the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.

Rhinehart pleaded guilty without a sentencing agreement. A pre-sentencing report was filed, the clerk’s office said.

According to a criminal complaint filed by Lt. Steven Crawford of the Bristol Police Department in Virginia, officers responded to Harvey Lane at 10:20 p.m. on December 8, 2022, for a report that two men had been shot and found the two victims on the ground. each with gunshot wounds to the head.

A Nissan driven by Christopher Carter was parked on the street near the scene of the shooting with the passenger door open and the radio playing, according to Crawford’s statement, which said parked behind the Nissan was a Land Rover registered to Rhinehart .

A witness reported seeing a man shoot D’Quares Carter and seeing the victim fall to the ground while seeing the suspect flee the scene, the release added. The keys to the Land Rover were found on the ground at Christopher Carter’s feet, according to the complaint.

A sentencing hearing has been set for January 16, 2025.