A teen is in custody days after a shooting at Mount Vernon Plaza in Hybla Valley sent two men to the hospital.
The 16-year-old boy was charged with willfully discharging a firearm in a public place, causing injuries, yesterday (Thursday) after the Fairfax County Police Department identified him as the alleged suspect in the Sept. 29 shooting.
According to the FCPD, its officers responded to the shopping center in the 7700 block of Richmond Highway at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday after receiving calls about a shooting.
“They located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound to his lower body. A second adult male was located nearby with a gunshot wound to his upper body,” the FCPD said.
Both men were transported to a hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
The scene of the shooting was described by witnesses as “chaotic,” with one shopper telling WUSA9 that she saw people “running … from every which way.”
Police say the teen identified as the suspect knew both of the victims, and the trio was “involved in a verbal argument when the shooting occurred.”
The teen turned himself in yesterday at the Fairfax County Juvenile Detention Center, where he remains in custody.
“Victim specialists from our Major Crimes Bureau’s Victim Services Division have been assigned to ensure the victims are receiving appropriate resources and assistance,” the FCPD said.
Willfully firing a gun in a street or a public place is classified in Virginia as a class 6 felony if the incident results in physical injury to another person. If there’s a conviction, the charge could result in one to five years of prison time, though the judge or jury also has the discretion to hand down a sentence of up to 12 months in jail with a maximum fine of $2,500 instead.
