FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA - Authorities with the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) have made several arrests after a gun store burglary was followed by a violent crime spree. The suspects who allegedly carried out these crimes were a group of teenagers and young men.
According to WUSA9, the gun store burglary was caught on surveillance video, which show multiple people breaking into Dominion Defense back on September 20th. Police said that video shows four teenage suspects using a stolen Kia, breaking into the store and stealing 14 firearms, including rifles and pistols. FCPD Chief Kevin Davis described the incident as "brazen."
FCPD Major Elizabeth Melendez said, "These crimes not only involved guns, but savage behavior." Davis said that the same suspects used the stolen guns to carry out a string of violent crimes between September 7th and September 22nd across the county. The crimes included shooting a 19-year-old man, robbing three people at gunpoint, and kidnapping a student. During the robbery, one victim was threatened with an AR-style rifle.
Authorities said that the suspects targeted specific homes, firing bullets into those houses. Bullet holes can still be seen at one crime scene on Matisse Way in Springfield. A neighbor recalled the chaos of that day, saying, "It was probably over 20 shots. One of the bullets went through a window [where] grandma was lying in bed."
The family in that home moved out, but the neighboring house was also hit, further raising fears in the tight-knit community. FCPD have arrested and charged five juveniles and two adults in connection with the crime spree. As of this writing, all of the teens and adults remain in jail. Authorities suspect that the group is linked to additional crimes, though they have not yet confirmed how many others.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) said that the trend of teens breaking into gun stores is on the rise. Anthony Spotswood, special agent in charge of the ATF Washington Filed Division said, "It's not isolated to just Fairfax County. It's happening across the country and we've seen a little increase in it, but a lot that is based on the timing of the year."
While the crime spree has people worried in the community, police said that the incidents do not appear to be gang related. Chief Davis vowed that his department will continue to investigate and hold those responsible accountable. He said, "We're absolutely going to catch you. That's a given. It's inevitable." According to WTOP, Davis said that police have recovered eight of the 14 stolen guns so far.
He said, "Those six more firearms out there in the wrong hands can do a lot of damage and a lot of harm ... The ages of these folks responsible for this crime and subsequent crimes are startling." Chief Davis said that all those arrested are local and they all know each other. In addition to the gun store robbery on September 18th, the group is suspected in being involved in other crimes, including:
Armed robberies of cellphones in the 6500 block of Springfield Mall in Springfield on September 7th; assault with a deadly weapon (shooting) on September 18th on Hagel Court in Lorton where a 19-year-old man was injured; shooting into an occupied dwelling on Matisse Way in Springfield on September 19th; an abduction and assault on Becontree Lane in Reston where the victim said they were assaulted and robbed but not seriously injured; another shooting in Lorton on September 21st into a home that was occupied; and a robbery in Hybia Valley on September 22nd in which the victim reported that an AR-style rifle weapon was brandished and he was robbed.
The suspects have been charged with multiple felonies including robbery, abduction, burglary, grand larceny of a firearm, grand larceny of an auto, possession of stolen property, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
According to WUSA9, the gun store burglary was caught on surveillance video, which show multiple people breaking into Dominion Defense back on September 20th. Police said that video shows four teenage suspects using a stolen Kia, breaking into the store and stealing 14 firearms, including rifles and pistols. FCPD Chief Kevin Davis described the incident as "brazen."
FCPD Major Elizabeth Melendez said, "These crimes not only involved guns, but savage behavior." Davis said that the same suspects used the stolen guns to carry out a string of violent crimes between September 7th and September 22nd across the county. The crimes included shooting a 19-year-old man, robbing three people at gunpoint, and kidnapping a student. During the robbery, one victim was threatened with an AR-style rifle.
Authorities said that the suspects targeted specific homes, firing bullets into those houses. Bullet holes can still be seen at one crime scene on Matisse Way in Springfield. A neighbor recalled the chaos of that day, saying, "It was probably over 20 shots. One of the bullets went through a window [where] grandma was lying in bed."
The family in that home moved out, but the neighboring house was also hit, further raising fears in the tight-knit community. FCPD have arrested and charged five juveniles and two adults in connection with the crime spree. As of this writing, all of the teens and adults remain in jail. Authorities suspect that the group is linked to additional crimes, though they have not yet confirmed how many others.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) said that the trend of teens breaking into gun stores is on the rise. Anthony Spotswood, special agent in charge of the ATF Washington Filed Division said, "It's not isolated to just Fairfax County. It's happening across the country and we've seen a little increase in it, but a lot that is based on the timing of the year."
While the crime spree has people worried in the community, police said that the incidents do not appear to be gang related. Chief Davis vowed that his department will continue to investigate and hold those responsible accountable. He said, "We're absolutely going to catch you. That's a given. It's inevitable." According to WTOP, Davis said that police have recovered eight of the 14 stolen guns so far.
He said, "Those six more firearms out there in the wrong hands can do a lot of damage and a lot of harm ... The ages of these folks responsible for this crime and subsequent crimes are startling." Chief Davis said that all those arrested are local and they all know each other. In addition to the gun store robbery on September 18th, the group is suspected in being involved in other crimes, including:
Armed robberies of cellphones in the 6500 block of Springfield Mall in Springfield on September 7th; assault with a deadly weapon (shooting) on September 18th on Hagel Court in Lorton where a 19-year-old man was injured; shooting into an occupied dwelling on Matisse Way in Springfield on September 19th; an abduction and assault on Becontree Lane in Reston where the victim said they were assaulted and robbed but not seriously injured; another shooting in Lorton on September 21st into a home that was occupied; and a robbery in Hybia Valley on September 22nd in which the victim reported that an AR-style rifle weapon was brandished and he was robbed.
The suspects have been charged with multiple felonies including robbery, abduction, burglary, grand larceny of a firearm, grand larceny of an auto, possession of stolen property, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
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