A 27-year-old Spotsylvania County man has been arrested in connection with a May 3 shooting that left one person dead and another injured during a reported residential burglary, according to the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office.

Tyler Chase Butler was taken into custody on May 6 and charged with second-degree murder, malicious wounding, and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He is being held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.

Deputies responded to a call around 3:00 a.m. on May 3 regarding a burglary in progress at a residence on McKenzie Lane. When they arrived, they found that two individuals had sustained gunshot wounds. One of the victims, 18-year-old Michael Bosworth Jr., was transported to a hospital where he later died.

The second gunshot victim, a juvenile, was treated for minor injuries and released.

A third juvenile who was present at the scene was unharmed. Officials have not released the names of the juveniles involved due to their age.

The sheriff’s office initially stated that the incident was under investigation with no charges filed at that time. The circumstances that led to Butler’s arrest three days later have not been fully detailed.

Key points

Tyler Chase Butler was arrested on charges including second-degree murder after a shooting in Spotsylvania.
Michael Bosworth Jr., 18, died from gunshot wounds sustained during the incident.
Two juveniles were also involved, one of whom sustained minor injuries.

Investigation continues into early morning shooting

Authorities are still examining the events that led to the fatal shooting. The initial report described a possible burglary in progress, with a resident allegedly firing shots during the incident.

Sheriff’s Office investigators have not confirmed who discharged the firearm or clarified the roles of each individual involved. The case remains active, and no additional charges or arrests have been announced.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office or submit tips anonymously online or by phone.

Shore News Network Staff Report Latest posts

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.