A Springfield, Virginia man was sentenced on July 20 to 78 months in federal prison after being convicted of assaulting his then-girlfriend with a hatchet while camping in Shenandoah National Park.
Soufiane Bougria, 31, was found guilty of two counts of felony assault within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States following a jury trial in March. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the incident occurred on the night of August 24, 2025, at Mathews Arm Campground. Three park visitors testified that they witnessed a heated argument between Bougria and his then-girlfriend (identified as B.A.), hearing screaming, slamming noises, crying, choking sounds, and what sounded like a gunshot. One witness saw Bougria physically grabbing B.A.
Witnesses reported hearing a male voice say, “I don’t care, I’ll do the max sentence,” and a female voice respond with “I can’t believe you would threaten me with murder.” All three witnesses called 911 to report the altercation. National Park Service Rangers responded to the scene and encountered two witnesses at an overlook near the campground. While speaking with them, officers saw a car matching Bougria’s vehicle drive past. After initiating a traffic stop, officers observed Bougria driving intoxicated—shirtless and barefoot—and B.A., who was crying and attempting to stop bleeding from her right arm using clothing. Officers noted blood and fatty tissue inside the car as well as damage including shattered glass and dirty footprints on both hood and windshield.
Bougria told officers that B.A.’s arm had been accidentally cut with an axe. Emergency medical personnel transported B.A. first to a local hospital before she was transferred for emergency surgery due to her injuries’ severity. In the early morning hours of August 25, rangers returned to their campsite where they found a hatchet stained with blood spatter on its handle along with blood throughout the site.
First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci made the announcement regarding sentencing; Assistant United States Attorney Sally J. Sullivan and Special Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Browne are prosecuting for the government while investigation continues by National Park Service Rangers.
The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia is part of the U.S Department of Justice; it handles federal prosecutions across western Virginia through offices located in Roanoke, Charlottesville, Abingdon, Lynchburg, Danville and Harrisonburg; it also partners with law enforcement agencies at all levels for public safety initiatives, according to its official website.