Halifax County, VA – A local man, Quentin Younger, was sentenced to 22 years in prison for a violent altercation at a Halifax County Dollar General, which left another man severely injured. The intense confrontation unfolded when Younger assaulted his ex-girlfriend and stabbed an intervening customer who tried to help her.
On June 4, 2023, at a Dollar General store located on Halifax Road, security footage captured Younger, 52, attacking his ex-girlfriend in the laundry aisle. The store manager, who has requested anonymity, intervened and asked Younger to leave the premises. However, he soon returned and escalated the violence by grabbing his ex-girlfriend from behind and choking her.
Caleb Fox, 24, a store employee, witnessed the assault and intervened by hitting Younger with a small box of cat food to distract him, allowing the woman to escape. Fox described his rapid response: “I wasn’t really scared, just knew I needed to do something right then.” During the struggle that ensued, Younger revealed a 3–4-inch knife and stabbed Fox multiple times, resulting in severe injuries including a punctured lung.
Following the attack, Fox was urgently airlifted to Duke Hospital. He suffered multiple injuries requiring surgeries and has since faced significant lifestyle adjustments. “I’ve got a dead zone in my leg which means I suddenly need to sit down sometimes, or I could collapse,” Fox explained, highlighting the lasting impact of his injuries.
Despite these challenges, Fox’s resilience shines through. His mother, Shawnee Dixon, shared that her son has overcome adversities beyond this incident, including managing his high-functioning form of autism known as Asperger’s Syndrome. “The doctors doubted his abilities early on, but he’s continuously proved them wrong. He’s my daily inspiration,” Dixon expressed.
In court, Halifax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Tracy Quackenbush Martin referred to Fox as a “real-life hero” for his decisive action during the incident. “He responded to a cry for help and undoubtedly prevented further harm to the victim by courageously intervening,” Martin stated.
Following the ordeal, Shawnee noted the community support, including initial financial assistance from Dollar General for Fox’s medical expenses. However, recognizing the prolonged recovery and inability for Fox to return to work soon, she has initiated a GoFundMe to help manage ongoing medical care and loss of income.
For those willing to support Fox’s recovery financially, details are available on the GoFundMe platform. As the family shifts focus towards healing and justice, they extend thanks to the Halifax Life Saving Crew, South Boston Police Department, and Duke Medical Center for their critical roles in Fox’s ongoing recovery process.