Woman killed in Staunton, police pursuing suspect

By Tony Gonzalez

Published: November 30, 2008

A 20-year-old Stuarts Draft woman was shot and killed at about 2:45 p.m. Sunday on Knollwood Drive in Staunton.

Amanda Kaye Bush was pronounced dead at the scene, Staunton Officer Lisa Klein said.

Police continue to pursue John Michael Mason, 27, who is wanted for questioning in relation to the shooting. Police said he is a white man and was last seen driving a 2008 Dodge Charger with Virginia tag XVD9908.

Witnesses saw a car of that description speeding away from the 2700 block of Knollwood Drive.

In a news release, police asked that the public do not attempt to contact or detain Mason, but should instead report his location to police.

Neighbors living near the scene described Bush as a “sweet girl” who had been babysitting for a family on the block for “only a couple of weeks.”

She often walked children home from the bus stop.

Neighbors called 911 and stayed with the woman in the street.

“We got a pulse and then lost it,” said Diana Craig, a seven-year resident in the neighborhood.

She called the neighborhood on the city’s west side a “good street for kids.”

“We never had any trouble here ... this is a tragedy,” she said.

Police declined to describe what may have provoked the shooting, or how many shots were fired.

Anyone having any information concerning this incident please call 911, the Staunton Police Department at 332-3842 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-322-2017.