This Day in Henrico History: Oct. 12 – Lakeside store owner shot in 1972

On October 12, 1972, an attempted robbery at a Lakeside Avenue business left its 68-year-old owner critically wounded. Waverly W. Gibbs Sr. was shot while closing his convenience store at 7305 Lakeside Avenue in Henrico County, according to a cold case record maintained by Virginia State Police.

The state record identifies the business as Terrence Motor Court. An unknown individual displayed a handgun and attempted to rob the store. Gibbs, who had a handgun holstered on his hip, drew his weapon during the encounter. The assailant shot him at close range.

Gibbs was taken to a hospital but died the next day, October 13. That distinction matters in marking the anniversary: the confrontation and shooting took place on October 12, while his death occurred on October 13.

The case remains listed as an active homicide investigation in the Virginia State Police cold case database.

The Henrico Police Cold Case Review Team continues to seek information about older unsolved cases. Its listed telephone number is (804) 501-5848, and its email address is hpdcoldcase@henrico.gov. The continuing investigation means that a shooting on a commercial stretch of Lakeside Avenue remains part of the county’s unfinished history.

Sources: https://coldcase.vsp.virginia.gov/henrico-police-division/case/henrico-county-police-department-case-721012001-waverly-w-gibbs-sr/; https://henrico.gov/police/cold-case-investigation/unsolved-homicides/