On September 5, 2026 at approximately 8:16AM the Culpeper County E-911 Center received a 911 phone call reporting an adult male with stab wounds at a residence in the 2000-blk of Forsythia Dr. Culpeper PD officers and Emergency Medical Services immediately responded to the area. According to the caller, the suspect had fled the scene in a vehicle.

The victim was located inside the residence with critical injuries. Officers performed life-saving measures until medical services arrived. He was transported to a regional hospital with potential life-threatening injuries and is currently in stable condition.

Culpeper PD detectives arrived at the residence to collect evidence and investigate. Witnesses on scene identified the suspect as Robert Issac Cantos, 32, of Culpeper. Deputies with the Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office provided assistance as law enforcement searched for Cantos.

The involved vehicle was located a short time later within the Town of Culpeper. As officers and detectives seized the vehicle and its evidence, a citizen notified law enforcement that they had been contacted by Cantos. The citizen directed law enforcement to a location on N Kelly St. Cantos was located and ultimately taken into custody without incident. The involved weapon was later recovered at Lenn Park.

As a result of this incident, Cantos was charged with Malicious Wounding, Breaking and Entering with Intent to Commit a Felony, Destruction of Property, and Trespassing. He was seen by a magistrate and held without bond at the Culpeper Jail.

Based on the preliminary investigation, Cantos and the victim are known to each other. This appears to have been an isolated domestic related incident. Cantos went to that residence deliberately looking for both the victim and another individual. When Cantos confronted the other individual, he saw the victim inside. Cantos forced his way into the residence, attacked the victim with an available weapon, then fled the area.

Culpeper PD thanks the Culpeper Sheriff’s Office and our fellow first responder partners for their assistance with this incident.

This remains an active and on-going investigation. Anyone with additional information is asked to email either Det. K. Payne at KPayne@culpeperva.gov or tips@culpeperva.gov. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can submit tips by calling Culpeper Crime Solvers at 540-727-0300 or submitting an online tip at culpeperpd.org.

If you or someone you know needs help escaping an abusive relationship, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224. You can also visit https://www.thehotline.org/ for information on how to identify the different forms of abuse, and how to support a loved one in an abusive relationship. For local Culpeper support and services, citizens can also contact Services to Abused Families, Inc. (SAFE) at 800-825-8876 or https://www.safejourneys.org. For other Virginia resources, visit the Virginia Sexual & Domestic Violence Action Alliance at https://vsdvalliance.org. If it’s an emergency, citizens should call or text 911.

Attached photo: Roberto Issac Cantos, 32, of Culpeper, VA

Xxx