VIRGINIA- Former classmates in Virginia of Dakota Theriot say they were surprised to hear that he was at the center of these gruesome murders.

Although they haven't seen him in years, they were shocked to hear the news being that this was someone they grew up with. They said when they learned his truck was crossing state lines they knew he was heading to a family member's house.

“Honestly, we talked about this last night. We said we think that's where he would be at. When we saw the thing about him heading to Mississippi, we said no sir, he's heading to Virginia,” said former classmate Acaja Gray.

Devin Sumiel says he vividly remembers Dakota from school, and they were in the same graduating class. The last time he saw him he was dropping Dakota off at his grandmother's house years ago.

“That's the last place that I dropped him off at, this was in 2016, and I saw him walking and I remembered his face from when I graduated. I went to school with him, and I asked if he needed a ride, and he said yeah I'm going right over to my grandmother's house,” said Devin Sumiel.

His former classmates were proven right after he was captured in Richmond County, Virginia Saturday morning.

Dakota Theriot was arrested by Richmond County Sheriff’s he was caught in the Northern Neck area of the region where he has family. Authorities arrested Theriot 15 hours after the shootings occurred.

The local sheriff said deputies were at his grandmother's house and Theriot arrived at the residence in a vehicle with a firearm pointed out of the window.