“Despite his past, I believe on this evidence he has met his burden of proof,” Prince William Times reported.
“I just want Shane back,” Brian Donahue, Shane’s father, said as he walked out of the courtroom.
Prince William County Circuit Court
Held inside Mae Merchant Hall, the venue will be transformed into a charming space with whimsical decorations and heart-shaped accents. Throughout the day, couples will participate in personalized ceremonies, from first-time vows to renewals celebrating decades of marriage.
The event, now a community tradition, draws support from local partners and small businesses to create a memorable experience for couples and their guests. Smith described the bash as “a special, elegant, and affordable way to celebrate their union together with family and friends in a welcoming and supportive environment.”
MANASSAS, Va. – Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office just told Potomac Local News they’ve secured a conviction in a deadly 2024 shooting on Stream Walk Lane, near Route 234 and Interstate 66, near Manassas. Zahir Abdul-Rahman Mujahid, 39, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Horace Roy Johnson III and has been sentenced to 40 years in prison—with more than 19 years suspended.
The shooting happened the night of November 23, 2024, near Balls Ford Road. Police found Johnson dead at the scene, along with shell casings and a pair of red glasses known to belong to Mujahid. Investigators say Mujahid shot Johnson multiple times after a fight broke out.
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PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – Prince William Circuit Court Judge Kimberly Irving has ruled in favor of Oak Valley residents challenging the rezoning for the PW Digital Gateway, a proposed 22-million-square-foot data center complex near Manassas. According to InsideNova.com, Irving found the county failed to properly advertise public hearings on the project, effectively voiding the rezoning approval, though an appeal is expected.
The lawsuit, filed by 12 Oak Valley homeowners, named the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and developers H&H Capital Acquisitions and GW Acquisition Co. as defendants. The plaintiffs argued that the county’s hearing notices in the Washington Post did not comply with state or county requirements and that relevant application materials were not available to the public when the first ad ran.
MANASSAS, Va. – Student creativity took center stage at the 5th Annual Law Day Award Ceremony, hosted by Jacqueline Smith, Clerk of the 31st Circuit Court, on May 1, 2024. Held at the Judicial Center in Manassas, the event honored young artists from Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park who illustrated the national theme “The Constitution’s Promise: Out of Many, One.”
According to a press release from the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, the evening featured a keynote address by Brentsville District Supervisor Tom Gordy, who presented Clerk Smith with a formal Law Day Proclamation on behalf of the Board of County Supervisors. The proclamation celebrated the historical significance of law in American society and underscored the event’s civic message.
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.
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Latoya Crabbe, the Manasas woman accused of shooting and killing her estranged husband, Curtis Crabbed, was released from jail on Friday, February 21, 2025. At the county jail, she had an emotional reunion with her mother, Marilyn Martin, who patiently waited for officials to release her from the lockup she’d been in since being charged on October 21, 2024.
A short time later, at home, Crabbe waited anxiously for her three children, whom she had not seen in four months, to come home from school. “I’m relieved to be back home, but I’m still anxious about the pending trial,” she said. “The most important thing for me is to hug and kiss my babies right now.”
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The Prince William County Circuit Court Clerk announced the continuation of the “Seals on Wheels” initiative for 2025. This mobile services program, led by Circuit Court Clerk Jacqueline C. Smith, brings essential court services directly to community members in Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park. Services include marriage licenses, name changes, notary oaths, and concealed handgun permits.
The program’s 2025 schedule begins in March and will visit various community locations, including libraries and local events such as the Occoquan Riverfest and Haymarket Day. Residents can save time and money by accessing services at convenient locations. For updated schedules and information, follow the Circuit Court Clerk’s social media or visit their website.
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