7:15 p.m. update from Prince William County Police Department: “The shooting that occurred earlier today [May 26, 2023, at 2:24 PM, in the 14700 block of Birchdale Avenue in Dale City] is now being investigated as a double homicide. Further investigation revealed a group of individuals were inside the home when one of the occupants began shooting, striking four males.”
“The suspect fled the home, and the police were contacted. Officers arrived at the residence and located one adult male outside of the home, who was later pronounced deceased at the scene by fire and rescue personnel. Officers then located three additional gunshot victims inside the home and provided immediate first aid until fire and rescue personnel transported them to area hospitals. One of the men later died at the hospital as a result of the injuries sustained during the shooting.”
“The other two men remain hospitalized, and the extent of their injuries are unknown. At this time, detectives from the Violent Crimes Bureau are actively investigating the incident to determine what led up to the shooting and are seeking to speak with anyone who has information as to what occurred. More information will be released when available. The investigation continues.”
Police tell PLN the incident does not appear to be random. According to initial reports, police are searching for a black SUV driven by one man said to have fled the scene after the shooting. Sources said the suspect is no longer in the area.
Following the shooting, the Birchdale neighborhood was closed to vehicles and pedestrians. “I know it’s inconvenient, but there will be a police presence in this area for some time as we they try to figure out what happened. For this to happen at the start of a holiday weekend, it’s horrible,” said Angry.
Birchdale is a large neighborhood of several hundred homes located off Dale Boulevard.
More as we have it.
Stafford County Sheriff’s Office: “Shasta Place, 5/25, 8:32 p.m. Deputies J.J. Suh and D.L. Brookman, Jr. responded to a disturbance in the apartment complex. Once parties were separated and the dust settled, the investigation revealed 10-year-olds [girls] were involved in a fight.”
“A parent [34-year-old woman] encouraged her offspring to get pepper spray to defend herself. The child proceeded to get the pepper spray and return to the fracas. A blast of the inflammatory agent to her adversary led to a law enforcement response. Several people at the scene received a washout from rescue personnel.”
“Deputy Suh obtained a warrant for contributing to the delinquency of a minor for the parent. A juvenile petition was requested for assault for the juvenile pepper sprayer. Additionally, a protective order was obtained to limit contact between the adversaries.”
The woman has not yet been arrested, a sheriff’s spokesman tells PLN.
“Historic Manassas Inc. Facebook page: “Miss Virginia Volunteer 2023, Kate Clatterbuck, will be making a special appearance in Manassas on Sunday, May 28, 2023. During her visit, she will dedicate her time to volunteering at the Manassas Visitors Center and actively promote ticket sales for the highly anticipated Manassas Railway Festival [Saturday, June 3, 2023].“
“From 9:00 am to 11:30 am, Kate Clatterbuck, the reigning Miss Virginia Volunteer, will engage with the community, emphasizing the significance of the Manassas Railway Festival and its impact on the region.”
“Kate Clatterbuck was crowned Miss Virginia Volunteer 2023 in August 2022 through the Miss Volunteer America organization, which focuses on community involvement and volunteerism. Throughout her reign, she has volunteered over 80 hours across various regions of Virginia, partnering with organizations such as the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office, Youth of Virginia Speak Out program, and Virginia Passenger Rail Authority.”
“The Manassas Railway Festival is an annual event celebrating the rich railway history of Manassas. It offers a variety of activities, including train rides, live entertainment, and historical exhibits. Admission to the Railway Festival is free, but the hour-long excursion rides to Clifton are ticketed. Tickets can also be purchased online for $7.50 per person, and can be purchase at the Visitor Center in Manassas or at https://insidenovatix.com/events/manassas-railway-festival-6-3-2023.”
Virginia ABC: “All Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) stores will open at their normal hours and close at 6 p.m. on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29.”
“Virginia ABC encourages customers to make mindful choices about alcohol during all of life’s celebrations.”
Inova: “Today Inova announced a transformational gift from long-time supporters of Inova, Dwight and Martha Schar, to support the hospital system’s heart and vascular programs. The Schars’ gift of $75 million – one of the largest to advance heart health in the country – will accelerate innovative cardiovascular care in Northern Virginia through the enhancement and expansion of what will become “Inova Schar Heart and Vascular.” The funds will be used to grow specialty services; focus on research, outreach, prevention and early diagnosis; recruit and retain top care team talent; and promote health equity across the Northern Virginia region.”
“The Schars have given or pledged more than $126 million to Inova Health System since 1993, including a $50 million gift in 2015 to establish the Inova Schar Cancer Institute. Seeking to expand the impact of their latest gift, the Schars are also challenging the Northern Virginia community to match their pledge.”
“Inova is home to Northern Virginia’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Its hospitals have a total of 1,936 licensed beds.”
Stafford County Sheriff’s Office: “Two Stafford residents who showed up to court [Wednesday, May 24, 2023] as witnesses will now have their own court case after bringing suspected controlled substances to the Courthouse complex.”
“On May 24th at approximately 1:33 p.m. Deputy M.A. Pearce was in General District Court preparing to testify when he observed someone in the audience that caught his eye… The female advised she was waiting to be a witness in a [10 a.m.] case.”
“Further investigation revealed suspected controlled substances in plain view within the vehicle they arrived in. There was even a double-bladed tomahawk covering up suspected controlled substances. A search of both suspects revealed the female had even more suspected controlled substances within her purse.”
Editor’s note: Meeting reporter Natalie Villalobos documented this event. Her notes were used to produce this story. Click here and learn more about becoming a meeting reporter and covering our local news.
Transportation officials in Prince William County held a public meeting on Thursday, May 25, 2023, to discuss realigning Prince William Parkway at Old Bridge Road.
The $34 million project would reconfigure a T-intersection at Prince William Parkway, allowing traffic between Manassas and Woodbridge to proceed straight. Drivers wanting to go to Lake Ridge via Old Bridge Road must turn.
Since crews built the parkway in the 1990s, drivers bound for Manassas must turn left to stay on the parkway. Drivers bound for Woodbridge must merge to the right to head toward Interstate 95. Prince William Parkway becomes Old Bridge Road if they remain straight, taking them into the primarily residential Lake Ridge area.
Rami Bazlamit, with the Prince William County Transportation Department, said the goal is to keep as much traffic on Prince William Parkway, which the department considers a major artery vs. Old Bridge Road, a minor arterial street.
When the project is complete, Prince William Parkway will be six lanes wide at the intersection. Drivers headed east toward I-95 that want to access Old Bridge Road will have three new turn lanes from the parkway onto Old Bridge.
Drivers from Old Bridge onto Prince William Parkway will have two lanes to turn right to Manassas and two left-turn lanes to go to I-95.
There will be a single lane from Old Bridge Road into the Seeton Square office complex and Merchant Plaza, home to a Safeway grocery store on the intersection’s north side. Drivers leaving the plaza can turn right onto Prince William Parkway but not left.
The project spans about a mile, between Laurel Hills Drive at the Ridgewood Center office complex to Kenwood Drive, near a Sheetz gas station.
The reconfigured roadway will come with new sidewalks and a pedestrian path. Transportation officials said no residents or businesses will be displaced during the construction, though about 15 properties will be temporarily affected during the two-year construction process beginning in 2025.
The project will reduce traffic delays at the intersection over the next 20 years. The Federal government will pay for construction, planners added.
Some residents who attended Thursday night’s meeting at Kerrydale Elementary School in Dale City expressed concerns about the realigned road’s effects on Merchant Plaza and the adjacent Seeton Square offices. Some worry the new one-lane configuration to access the properties from Old Bridge Road and drivers’ inability to turn left onto the parkway could encourage drivers to use the office complex as a cut-through and cause more crashes.
Transportation planners said they’re still reviewing design options and will hold another public hearing later this fall. They’re also considering removing a set of flashing lights at the Prince William Parkway and Black Forest Lane in conjunction with the project. According to a county transportation department spokeswoman, traffic volumes at the intersection do not warrant a full traffic signal.
The project is fully funded, and planners are now examining what utility lines need to be moved to make way for the reconfigured road. Planners drew the design being considered for the project six years ago.
Occoquan District Supervisor Kenny Boddye said he supports the plan because it reduces traffic on Old Bridg Road. “The goal is to reduce traffic, and this project does that,” said Boddye.
Supervisor Ruth Anderson, his predecessor, got the ball rolling on the realignment project and pushed to erect signs on Prince William Parkway directing drivers bound for I-95 to remain on the parkway to reduce traffic on Old Bridge Road.
The base sent us photos of the event.
Quantico: “Marine Corps Base Quantico is partnering with Prince William County to conduct a full-scale exercise on the base on May 25 that will simulate a train derailment on main side. The exercise, which is expected to be the largest conducted here in more than a decade, will test the ability of the base and Prince William County to react and work together in a multi-faceted emergency that affects the base and local community.”
“This exercise is one of a kind,” said Jason Terry, the Exercise Director and Emergency Operations Manager for Marine Corps Base Quantico. “The amount of planning and coordination that went into this exercise beginning last summer has been great and has already allowed Quantico and Prince William County to build what is already a strong partnership,” he further explained.
“According to Terry, this exercise also speaks to the importance that both Quantico and Prince William County place on readiness and working together through any emergency. Having a shared understanding of emergency operation tactics, techniques, and procedures enhances both the partnership and emergency response capabilities of Prince William County and Quantico.”
Earlier this month, Mayor Kevin Brown told us no one from the base or county government included the town in the planning exercises for the May 25 event. Quantico is the only civilian town sitting within the borders of a U.S. military installation.
“Further investigation revealed after the crash. The driver fled the area prior to police arriving on scene. Following the investigation, investigators obtained arrest warrants for the driver, identified as Jeffrey Wayne HOLMAN. Attempts to locate HOLMAN have been unsuccessful.”
“Wanted: [Photo from March 2021], Jeffrey Wayne HOLMAN, 55, of the 1400 block of Admiral Dr. in Woodbridge. He was described as a white male, 6’2”, 240lbs., with brown hair and blue eyes, and a scar on his left arm. Wanted for felony hit & run and driving on a revoked license.”
