Mathews Prosecutor Found Shot Outside Her SUV

A .22-caliber revolver was found at the scene, with four rounds and one spent cartridge case inside, court documents say.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The elected top prosecutor for Mathews County, Tina Marie Walls, was found on the ground outside her SUV on Tuesday morning with a single gunshot wound to her chest. A .22-caliber revolver was found at the scene, with four rounds and one spent cartridge case inside, according to court documents.

Why it matters

The death of the Mathews County Commonwealth's Attorney has sent shockwaves through the local community, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the safety of public officials in the area.

The details

According to a search warrant affidavit, Elizabeth Ann Brown, the elected Circuit Court clerk for Mathews County, found Walls on the ground next to her vehicle. Deputies found Walls' back door unlocked and did a protective sweep of the residence, but found no one inside. Walls' 14-year-old son was at school at the time. The State Police have said investigators aren't seeking any suspects, and the Mathews Sheriff has indicated that no 'foul play' is suspected.

  • On Tuesday morning, Elizabeth Ann Brown found Walls on the ground next to her vehicle at around 11:29 a.m.
  • Walls, who led the Mathews prosecutor's office since January 2024, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The players

Tina Marie Walls

The elected Circuit Court clerk for Mathews County and the Mathews Commonwealth's Attorney since January 2024.

Elizabeth Ann Brown

The elected Circuit Court clerk for Mathews County who found Walls on the ground next to her vehicle.

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What they’re saying

“If the public were in danger, there would have been a countywide alert. But that was not the case.”

— April Edwards, Mathews Sheriff (Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal)

What’s next

The State Medical Examiner's Office in Richmond has not yet released a cause and manner of Walls' death, and the investigation is ongoing.

The takeaway

The death of the Mathews County Commonwealth's Attorney has left the community in shock, and authorities are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting, which they have indicated does not appear to pose a threat to the public.