Man Charged in Prince William, Va., With Abducting Wife at Gunpoint

Prince William County police said a Fredericksburg man was being held without bond Monday after an incident in Woodbridge in which the suspect's wife was held hostage and another person was injured as a result of gunfire.

About 9:30 a.m. Sunday, the suspect, Torris D. Cowan, 44, followed his estranged wife, 42, to her daughter's residence in the 2000 block of Powells Landing Circle, police said.

Erika Hernandez, a police spokeswoman, said that neighbors called police after seeing Cowan pull a gun and that officers arrived soon afterward. Cowan then pulled his wife into the townhouse, where the daughter was renting a room, Hernandez said.

The homeowner, a 50-year-old man, began struggling with Cowan, and Cowan's wife broke free and ran from the home, police said.

Cowan fired two shots inside the house, police said. The homeowner was not shot, but he was hit by fragments when the bullet struck a piece of tile, police said. After Cowan dropped the gun, the homeowner kicked it outside to officers, and Cowan was arrested, police said.

Hernandez said police were not identifying Cowan's wife, her daughter or the homeowner because they are victims.

Cowan is charged with abduction, two counts of attempted malicious wounding, burglary while armed and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, Hernandez said.