Jose Rafael Lizama, a 48-year-old Manassas Park resident, was sentenced on April 3, 2025, to 10 years in prison, with five years suspended, for the 2023 death of Justin Burns. He will serve five years in the Virginia Department of Corrections, followed by five years of supervised probation. Lizama must also wear an ankle monitor for continuous drug and alcohol testing after release.
Four days before the start of his January 2025 trial, Lizama took a plea deal and admitted to striking and killing Justin Burns of Blackstone near Richmond while speeding and driving drunk on December 2, 2023. Justin was crossing the 8900 block of Center Street in downtown Manassas, near Old Town Sports Pub, just before 11 p.m. Police crime scene investigators determined that Lizama was traveling nearly double the speed limit in foggy weather when he struck Justin.
Prince William Assistant Commonwealth Attorney, Ryan Reynolds, told the court that police wrote in their report that Lizama had attempted to blend into the crowd to avoid responsibility for the crash until witnesses identified him as the driver.
Lizama appeared remorseful before Prince William County Circuit Court Judge Angela Horan, apologizing to the judge, the victim’s family, and his own family. “I’m sorry from the bottom of my heart to Mr. Burns’ family. My words will never be enough for the pain and suffering that I have caused,” Lizama said through a Spanish interpreter.
Horan said she wanted to see an end to drunk driving and stated that the sentencing guidelines did not allow for a harsher sentence. “We are never going to eradicate this behavior (drunk driving) if we let people get away,” she said, adding, “too many lives are taken because of this behavior.” Raising her voice, Horan expressed anger that he had been driving 47 miles per hour drunk down Manassas’ Center Street. “That decision was outside the realm of the sentencing guidelines.”
Lizama had prior offenses related to speeding and alcohol dating back to 2018 in Virginia. It is unclear when he entered the country or if he had other violations elsewhere.
Kim Burns, Justin’s mother, gave a victim impact statement emphasizing his philanthropic work in the community. He volunteered with several organizations, including the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in Manassas. He also founded Succor Solutions, Inc., a nonprofit specializing in disaster recovery and economic development in Blackstone.
Burns told the court she was saddened not to receive a call from Justin on her 66th birthday, as he had done every year. “Our lives changed forever that day. There will never be a day I don’t wake up thinking of Justin, and he is the last thought I have before I go to sleep. My son had so much to give, and that’s not going to happen now. I’m never going to get to dance with my son at his wedding. I’m never going to get to hold my grandchild from him, and he’s not going to be there for his brother and sister when his dad and I get old.”
“Justin was a blessing to the community, what a loss his death was to the community,” Horan said in response.
Justin had been in town to attend an event for his nonprofit. Burns described Justin’s death as a “good day,” during which he participated at the Manassas Christmas parade with his brother and toured the recently renovated Manassas Museum. He was on his way to Old Town Sports Pub to meet friends when he was killed.
After sentencing, Burns told Potomac Local News that she was glad Horan did not hold back in chastising Lizama from the bench. “While nothing can fill the loss of our son, Justin, Judge Horan served a sentence that brings him some justice while setting a precedent that drinking and driving will not be tolerated.”
Burns said her family plans to honor Justin’s legacy by organizing an annual blood drive, something he was passionate about. Justin was designated as a “Hero for Babies” by the American Red Cross, a title awarded to blood donors who meet specific criteria to provide safe and essential blood for newborns and infants. His blood donations over the years saved more than 75 lives.
Lizama’s attorney, Fernando Villarroel of the Manassas-based Irving Law Group, did not respond to requests for comment. He had sought only probation and alcohol treatment for Lizama, but Horan denied the request.
