Residents, leaders and law enforcement in Manassas, Virginia, are debating whether the city should keep hosting First Friday after a teenager who was an innocent bystander was shot and killed at the most recent event.
The public event has become a tradition in which the historic downtown Manassas transforms into a big block party on the first Friday of every month.
A 16-year-old girl identified as Ashley was caught in the crossfire when three suspects opened fire near the train depot in Old Town Manassas during the First Friday in early September. Police arrested and charged three men in the shooting. Two of the suspects were out on bond for unrelated cases when the deadly shooting happened, police said.
Shortening the hours of the event, improving security and limiting outdoor drinking are some of the potential changes discussed during the Manassas City Council’s meeting on Monday night.
Some residents at the meeting said First Friday should continue as-is, while others voiced concerns about safety.
“I think we can limit the areas in which people can drink. But at the end of the day, it wasn’t two drunks that got into a bar fight and killed somebody. It was a felon that was out on the street that never should’ve been there,” one woman told the council. “So I ask that you not take away our freedoms because other people can’t follow the law.”
“I can’t tell you what needs to happen, but I can tell you that I would like to feel safe where I live again. And I think that other residents would probably share the same sentiment as well,” another woman said.
“I think we need to put things on hold,” one resident said.
No decisions have been made and the council hasn’t taken any votes on the future of First Friday. News4 expects to learn more about their next steps in the coming days.
