WAYNESBORO, VA – A Waynesboro man convicted of murdering his former best friend during a turbulent dispute involving a romantic triangle has been sentenced to life in prison.
Dustin Dove, 24, was handed the maximum sentence on Friday for the shooting death of Seth Wallace, 22, an incident that unfolded in late May and brought a dramatic conclusion to a friendship that once seemed unbreakable. The sentencing follows Dove’s conviction of first-degree murder in April, after a jury determined that the killing was premeditated.
Prosecutors said Dove shot Wallace in the early morning hours of May 24 outside Wallace’s home on D Street in Waynesboro. The violence marked the climax of a bitter falling out rooted in jealousy and accusations surrounding 22-year-old Kaylee Turner, who had been dating Dove and was also a friend of Wallace.
Testimony in Waynesboro Circuit Court revealed that Dove and Wallace first crossed paths at a Harrisonburg bar in 2022 and quickly became close companions. However, their relationship soured earlier this year after Dove served time in jail for drug charges, an event that prosecutors say disrupted the group’s dynamics.
According to statements made in court, growing suspicion and resentment festered between the two men in 2024. Defense attorneys argued that Wallace made inappropriate advances toward Turner while Dove was incarcerated, adding a layer of tension that lingered after Dove’s release.
After his release in May, Dove violated parole by testing positive for drugs and was facing a possible return to jail. During this period, Wallace allegedly told Turner that Dove had been unfaithful, further inflaming the situation, according to defense arguments in court. Electronic messages exchanged between the men became increasingly threatening and personal, including remarks about Dove’s mother’s cancer diagnosis.
A forensic expert testified about messages sent in the hours leading up to the killing, with threats such as “I’m going to destroy you” and “I’m going to get away with it” presented as evidence of Dove’s intent. Court records also described videos Dove made with the AR-15-style rifle used in the shooting.
On May 24, Dove and Turner drove to Wallace’s residence. Prosecutors said Dove waited in hiding until Wallace appeared before opening fire. Investigators later recovered 15 fired shell casings, with eight bullets having struck Wallace, most of them in his lower torso and groin.
Responding officers found Wallace alert enough to name his attacker. According to police body camera footage played in court, Wallace identified Dove before succumbing to his wounds from infection and septic shock nearly three weeks later.
Authorities arrested Dove the following day after he and Turner traveled to West Virginia in an attempt to seek advice from her father, according to police testimony. Once in custody, Dove reportedly recorded a rap song over a jail phone, referencing the killing and the breakdown of his former friendship with Wallace.
In addition to Dove’s conviction, Turner has faced charges as an accessory to first-degree murder and unlawful firearm use. She is expected to appear in court as part of a plea agreement.
A fundraising campaign established in Wallace’s memory described him as a young man whose promising future was cut short by violence. According to the campaign, Wallace was “just starting” to fully embrace life.