West Side shooting victim still hospitalized

A 49-year-old man wounded in a robbery and shooting at a Culpeper convenience store earlier this month remains hospitalized in Charlottesville.

West Side Grocery manager Alex Ashrifeh said Thursday afternoon that Imad Abdo remains at the University of Virginia Medical Center.

Police have charged 18-year-old Stephen R. Leavell of Culpeper in connection with the Nov. 4 incident. He is being held without bond in the Culpeper County Jail on charges of aggravated malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, wearing a mask, use of a sawed-off shotgun, cutting, stabbing or wounding in the commission of a felony and armed robbery.

According to police, Leavell is suspected of entering the store on Sperryville Pike and holding up Abdo at gunpoint. At some point during the confrontation, police say Abdo sprayed Leavell with mace and Leavell shot Abdo in the shoulder.

Leavell is due in General District Court on Dec. 2 at 11 a.m.

Ashrifeh said Abdo has undergone several surgeries and may regain use of his hand. However, Ashrifeh said doctors are not certain when Abdo might be released.

No one from the hospital was immediately available for comment on Abdo’s condition Thursday evening.