ARLINGTON, Va. (7News) — New screenshots emerged this week of text messages reportedly sent by Virginia Attorney General candidate Jay Jones in 2022 that wished violence against then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert.

The texts shared with another state lawmaker resurfaced just over a month before voters cast their ballots for the state's next Attorney General, with Jones, a Democrat, facing off against Republican incumbent Jason Miyares. Jones issued an apology for the remarks hours after the revelation.

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Jones, a former House delegate representing the Norfolk region, had already resigned from his seat at the time the texts were sent. Screenshots showed him talking about shooting Gilbert, and messages in the chat implied a previous conversation that suggested Jones had made negative comments about Gilbert's children.

"Three people, two bullets... Gilbert, Hitler, and Pol Pot.... Gilbert gets two bullets to the head," the messages from Jones read. The message recipient pleaded for Jones to stop.

The texts were made the same year Jones had been charged with reckless driving in Kent County, Virginia, according to reports.

“I take full responsibility for my actions, and I want to issue my deepest apology to Speaker Gilbert and his family. Reading back those words made me sick to my stomach. I am embarrassed, ashamed, and sorry, Jones said in a statement. “I have reached out to Speaker Gilbert to apologize directly to him, his wife Jennifer, and their children. I cannot take back what I said; I can only take full accountability and offer my sincere apology."

Both gubernatorial candidates, Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican Winsome Earle Sears, sharply criticized the comments. Spanberger said she shared her "disgust" with Jones and told him to take responsibility, while Earle-Sears called for the Attorney General candidate to drop out of the race.

“After learning of these comments earlier today, I spoke frankly with Jay about my disgust with what he had said and texted. I made clear to Jay that he must fully take responsibility for his words," Spanberger said in a statement. "What I have also made clear is that as a candidate — and as the next Governor of our Commonwealth, I will always condemn violent language in our politics.”

"Jay Jones wished death on children and fantasized about killing people. Abigail Spanberger’s response was empty—she condemned the rhetoric but stopped short of saying what any serious leader would: Jay Jones must drop out. Her response is simply not good enough," Earle Sears said in a statement.

Miyares declined to provide a comment on his opponent's statement.

Read Jones' full statement below:

“I take full responsibility for my actions, and I want to issue my deepest apology to Speaker Gilbert and his family. Reading back those words made me sick to my stomach. I am embarrassed, ashamed, and sorry.

“I have reached out to Speaker Gilbert to apologize directly to him, his wife Jennifer, and their children. I cannot take back what I said; I can only take full accountability and offer my sincere apology.

“Virginians deserve honest leaders who admit when they are wrong and own up to their mistakes. This was a grave mistake and I will work every day to prove to the people of Virginia that I will fight for them as Attorney General.”