Shooting Incident in Woodbridge
On February 15 at 8:05PM, police responded to a residence on Scotch Ct. in Woodbridge following reports of shots fired. Investigation revealed two unidentified males fired rounds at a home before fleeing. No injuries were reported. Suspects described as black males, one wearing a white jacket and the other dressed in all black.
Assault with an Axe near Manassas
At 10:45PM on February 15, officers arrived at the Days Inn on New Market Ct. in Manassas to investigate an assault. A 35-year-old man was assaulted by two unknown individuals, with one wielding an axe and damaging the victim’s vehicle. Minor injuries were reported.
Commercial Burglary in Woodbridge
Police responded to a burglary at Smoketown Tobacco on Smoketown Rd. in Woodbridge on February 15 at 10:27AM. Entry was forced through a damaged glass door, and an undisclosed sum of money and vape products were reported missing.
Road Rage Incident Leads to Arrest
A road rage incident on Mulcaster Ter. in Dumfries on February 15 resulted in the arrest of Juana Adriana FLORES-MONTERO. The 73-year-old victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries after being struck by FLORES-MONTERO’s vehicle. Charges include malicious wounding, felony hit and run, and hit and run.
Domestic Dispute Ends in Arrest
Following a domestic dispute at Woodbridge Forest Apartments on Tyler Cl. in Woodbridge, Rudy Brandon RODRIGUEZ PIEROLA was arrested on February 15. Charges against RODRIGUEZ PIEROLA include strangulation, abduction, preventing the summoning of law enforcement, and domestic assault & battery.
Assault on Law Enforcement Officer
Jose Danilo PORTILLO, 32, of Woodbridge, was arrested on February 15 in Manassas for assaulting a law enforcement officer. PORTILLO resisted arrest and grabbed an officer after being treated for intoxication. Charges include assault & battery on LEO, obstruction of justice, and being intoxicated in public.
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Assault at Bank of America
At the Bank of America, located at 1525 Stafford Market Place on February 14, 2024, at 2:17 p.m., deputies were dispatched following a disturbance report involving a weapon. The victim claimed to have been assaulted, strangled, and threatened with a weapon by her romantic partner. The suspect managed to flee the scene but was later apprehended by Deputy A.J. Layug at Circle K, 34 Prosperity Lane. A firearm was confiscated during the detention, and the suspect faced charges of assault and battery, strangulation, and carrying a concealed weapon. He was subsequently released on personal recognizance by the magistrate.
Larceny reports
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The weapon was safely confiscated without further issues. This marks the second such incident in recent months, despite the school district’s $11 million investment in safety screening technology. The school district emphasized its commitment to student and staff safety, indicating ongoing evaluations of security measures.
A knife was discovered in the possession of a 15-year-old student at Colgan High School, prompting swift action by school authorities and law enforcement on February 14. According to reports, the incident unfolded at approximately 9:15 a.m. when the School Resource Officer (SRO) assigned to Colgan High School was alerted to the weapon’s presence.
It was revealed during the subsequent investigation that the accused student had allegedly brandished the knife toward fellow students within a classroom setting.
Upon being informed of the situation, school personnel promptly notified the SRO, who, along with school staff, located and safely confiscated the knife from the student without further escalation. Fortunately, it was determined that the knife did not pose an immediate threat to other students, faculty, or staff members.
Following protocol, the 15-year-old male, identified as the accused, was placed under arrest and charged with possession of a weapon on school grounds. The accused is currently held at the Juvenile Detention Center, pending a court date.
This occurrence marks the second incident within as many months involving the possession of a knife on school premises, despite the recent deployment of $11 million in safety screening technology. The previous incident, which occurred at Potomac Senior High School on January 3, saw a similar discovery of a knife in a student’s possession, bypassing the implemented metal detectors.
In response to the incident, Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) spokeswoman Megan Silas emphasized the ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety of students and staff. She highlighted the recent implementation of safety screening technology at middle and high schools across the district to enhance security measures. However, Silas acknowledged that despite the significant investment in such technology, incidents like these underscore the need for continuous evaluation and improvement of safety protocols.
“This situation remains under review,” stated Silas in an email to Potomac Local, emphasizing the district’s dedication to refining its processes in light of emerging challenges.
The installation of metal detectors, part of an $11 million investment in school safety measures, was undertaken by Prince William County Public Schools in collaboration with Evolv. The decision to adopt this technology at the division’s middle and high schools followed extensive deliberation, with school board members conducting firsthand assessments of the equipment’s efficacy in other jurisdictions.
With 92,000 students, Prince William County is Virginia’s second-largest public school division.
After nearly a year of investigation, law enforcement officers have apprehended the suspect in connection to a stabbing incident that occurred in Dale City on March 4, 2023. Robert Dejell Rufus Jackson, 43, of 13206 Haddock Rd. in Dale City, was taken into custody by Alexandria City police on January 24, 2024.
The incident, which occurred at a residence in the 13700 block of Greenwood Drive near Minnieville Elementary School, left a 41-year-old man with multiple stab wounds. Authorities were alerted to the situation at 4:32 a.m. when a caller reported finding the front door of the residence ajar. Upon entering, they discovered the victim suffering from severe injuries.
Emergency services were immediately contacted, and the victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Thankfully, his injuries were determined to be non-life-threatening.
Jackson faces charges of malicious wounding and abduction in connection to the incident. Despite the passage of nearly a year since the attack, authorities continued to pursue leads diligently, ultimately leading to Jackson’s arrest.
A court date for Jackson is pending.
Strong-Arm Robbery
On February 14 at 7:43 p.m., authorities responded to a robbery near Miramar Dr. and Streamwalk Ln. in Manassas (20109). A 51-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man were approached by two unidentified men who demanded money. One suspect seized the woman’s purse before both fled. No injuries were reported.
Suspect Descriptions:
- White male, approximately 5’10”, skinny build, dark brown hooded sweatshirt
- White male, approximately 5’9”, skinny build, red hooded sweatshirt
Reckless Handling of a Firearm
On February 13 at 8:47 p.m, police were called to the 1500 block of Sandpiper Bay Lp. in Dumfries (22026) for reported gunshots. Shots were heard near the riverbank, followed by the rapid departure of two vehicles. No evidence of shooting, injuries, or property damage was found.
Commercial Burglaries
On February 14 at 9:16 a.m., authorities responded to Rahama African Market at 12778 Darby Brooke Ct. in Woodbridge (22192) for a burglary. Around 11:30 p.m. on February 13, an unknown individual smashed the front glass door to enter the business. Money was stolen from the cash register before the suspect fled. A neighboring business was also burglarized in a similar manner. No suspect description is available at this time.
Manassas City Police responded to a 911 hang-up call on February 9, 2024, about 7:50 p.m. in the 8600 block of Bruton Parish Court.
Upon arrival, officers encountered a group of individuals who attempted to flee the area. One individual was observed discarding a firearm under a nearby vehicle, leading to their immediate detention by law enforcement, police said.
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The incident resulted in the death of Elijah Islam Safdi, 23, of Manassas, who was one of the stabbing victims. The other stabbing victim, a 23-year-old man from Fairfax, remains hospitalized in critical condition.
The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), with members from Local Union 26 IBEW, operates a training center at the address.
Preliminary details released by authorities indicate that the incident began with multiple 911 calls reporting a stabbing-in-progress at the training center, police said. When officers arrived, they encountered Brant at the entrance door and engaged him as he brandished a knife, police said. Despite commands to drop the weapon, Brant continued to advance toward the officers, prompting them to fire their department-issued handguns, ultimately striking Brant, police said.
Further investigation revealed that the initial stabbing occurred in a classroom within the training center, where Brant allegedly approached one victim and began stabbing him multiple times, police said. The altercation escalated, leading to the second stabbing victim, Safadi. Safadi later succumbed to his injuries.
The suspect, Brant, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) continues to lead the investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, the officers involved, both with five years and one-and-half years of service, respectively, in uniformed patrol operations. Each has been placed on routine paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Authorities urge anyone with information about the incident to contact the Prince William County Police Department tipline at 703-792-7000 or submit a web tip at pwcva.gov/policetip. All tips received will be relayed to CIRT investigators as the investigation progresses.
Stafford County Sheriff's Office has been actively investigating several incidents recently, spanning a range of offenses. Here's a breakdown of the incidents they've been handling:
ASSAULT
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Updated: One of the victims involved in the initial stabbing altercation with the suspect has died. All parties involved in the incident were adult males. The surviving victim remains hospitalized in critical condition. A knife was recovered at the scene. The identities of the deceased will be released pending notifications of their next-of-kin, police said.
Original post: Prince William County Police responded to a reported stabbing incident at an apprenticeship training center on Infantry Ridge Road, near Northern Virginia Community College Manassas Campus, on February 13 at 3:23 p.m.
Upon arrival, officers encountered an individual armed with a knife near the entrance. Multiple officers discharged their firearms, resulting in the suspect being pronounced deceased at the scene, police said.
Two individuals with stab wounds were found and provided with initial medical aid before being transported to nearby hospitals. Their current conditions remain undisclosed. No further victims were discovered, and the situation is under control with no ongoing threat to the community, police said
The investigation into the officer-involved shooting has been handed over to the regional Critical Incident Response Team at the request of Prince William police Chief Peter Newsham, ensuring an independent review of the incident.
An IBEW electrical training center is in the area. However, police have not confirmed it is where the shooting took place.
The shooting is the latest in a violent week in Prince William County, where an 18-year-old was carjacked at gunpoint near Potomac Mills mall.
More as we have it.
In the late hours of February 11, a disturbing incident unfolded in the 14200 block of Smoketown Road, near Potomac Mills mall in Woodbridge, when an 18-year-old man fell victim to a carjacking and robbery. According to reports, the victim had offered a ride to a group of men, one of whom was identified by police as Ibrahim Jr., an acquaintance. However, what began as a seemingly routine gesture quickly turned violent.
As the victim parked the vehicle in a nearby lot, the situation took a turn when Barrie, Jr. and another individual from the group pursued and tackled the victim in the median of Smoketown Road, police said. The assailants assaulted the victim and took his personal belongings, including phones, wallet, and keys, police said. Fortunately, a Good Samaritan intervened, allowing the victim to escape with only minor injuries.
Officers later discovered the victim’s vehicle abandoned in the vicinity of Westminister Lane. Despite the swift apprehension of Barrie Jr. through the issuance of arrest warrants, the search for other involved parties remains ongoing as authorities diligently pursue leads to ensure all responsible individuals are brought to justice.
Reckless Handling of a Firearm
On the morning of February 10, residents in the area of Orkney Ct. near Knightsbridge Drive in Lake Ridge were rattled by the sound of gunfire, prompting a swift response from law enforcement. An investigation uncovered evidence of reckless firearm use, as shell casings littered the roadway, accompanied by damage to a nearby fence and tree, police said. Miraculously, no injuries or additional property damage were reported, but the incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by irresponsible firearm handling.
Malicious Wounding in Domestic Dispute
Police were called to a domestic altercation on February 11; authorities were summoned to a residence in the 2500 block of Transom Place in Woodbridge to address an incident that escalated into a violent act of malicious wounding, police said. The altercation between a 31-year-old man and a family member, later identified as Virgile Lofton Barber, erupted into physical violence, resulting in the victim sustaining non-life-threatening injuries from a knife attack.
Prompt intervention by other residents halted the assault, allowing for the victim’s medical treatment and the subsequent arrest of Barber, police said. Charged with malicious wounding and domestic assault & battery, police added.
