Two more suspects have been arrested in the killing of a 16-year-old girl who was shot during a community event in Manassas on Friday, police said in an update Wednesday.
The teen girl was caught in the crossfire when three suspects opened fire about 9:30 p.m. near the train depot in Old Town Manassas, the Manassas City Police Department said. It happened at the town’s popular First Friday event.
Police Chief Doug Keen identified the 16-year-old victim as Ashley during a Wednesday afternoon news conference. He said her family did not want her last name to be made public, and they requested privacy.
“They didn’t even have the opportunity to view their daughter until yesterday with the circumstances of this being a murder,” Keen said.
Third shooter discovered through videos, witnesses
Tasheem Douglas, 21, was initially thought to be a victim in the shooting because he was hurt. But Keen said police soon identified him as the primary suspect and charged him in Ashley’s killing.
Keen said during the first 24 hours after the shooting, police thought there were two suspects involved, including Douglas. But their investigation took a turn on Sunday when they discovered through witness testimony and videos that there was a third shooter involved.
Police obtained warrants for 19-year-old Xavier Wanzer, of Orange, Virginia, and 23-year-old Talib Davis, of Fauquier County. The U.S. Marshals Service helped track them down and arrested them late Tuesday night, Keen said.
Investigators said before the shooting, Wanzer went up to Douglas and confronted him near the train depot. Douglas pulled out a gun and fired multiple rounds and Wanzer during the confrontation, police said.
That’s when Ashley was hit by gunfire, police said. Wanzer wasn’t hurt.
As Douglas took off, Wanzer shot back at him and the third suspect, Davis, also fired at Douglas from the train depot parking lot.
Douglas suffered a gushot wound to his leg/buttocks area.
All three suspects are being held in jail in Prince William County without bond.
Community mourns teen victim
“We need to remember. This does not bring closure to this family,” Keen said after announcing the additional arrests in the case. “This family is not gonna get the phone call, ‘Dad, can you come pick me up?’ ‘Mom, what is my outfit look like today?’ ‘Dad, can I have $10. I’m going to go meet my friends.’ That will never happen again for these families.”
Mementos were left at a growing memorial at the train station for Ashley, who school officials said was a student at Patriot High School.
Sour Patch candy, a bottle of soda, a Spider-Man figurine, stuffed toys and religious candles were lit and lined up side by side. There were also flowers, balloons and notes written to the teen.
Deborah Meader went to the memorial — not because she knew the 16-year-old, but because her daughter asked her to.
“We need to all come together in times like these and to show solidarity and to show that a life lost is not forgotten,” Meader said. “My daughter specifically asked me to come and to bring flowers to her.”
Keen said there were around 8,000 to 10,000 people at the First Friday event, a large block party held during the summer months. It does allow attendees of legal drinking age to carry open containers in a confined area. He said this was the first time there’s ever been violence at a First Friday.
“I was literally just chilling with some friends. Next thing you know, I started coming this way, started hearing gunshots go off. At first, I heard was like three go off, and that’s when I started ducking and running,” said resident Shawn Hines.
“These events have been extremely successful. They’ve been extremely safe. Really, the only thing we’ve dealt with are, you know, drunk in public, maybe a couple of disorderlies,” Keen said.
This is a developing story. Continue to refresh for updates.
