Police search for fourth suspect in hate crime

More than 100 cars in several Manassas area neighborhoods were painted with racial slurs and other hate messages early Thursday morning, Prince William County police said.

Police believe that four people, using a washable marker, wrote racial, religious, ethnic and sexual orientation slurs on cars in the areas of Wedgwood Drive, Trudle Place, Quail Run Lane and Remington Road in Manassas around 2:30 a.m. Thursday, Prince William County police spokeswoman 1st Sgt. Kim Chinn said Friday.

The victims were “completely random,” Chinn said.

In a statement, Prince William County police chief Charlie Deane said the county police take all hate crimes seriously.

“Even though the damage was minimal, we treat these incidents very seriously, and they are investigated with a high priority due to the fear and anxiety they cause a community,” Deane said in the statement.

Police arrested three Manassas area residents for the incidents and have a warrant for a fourth.

Nathan Anthony McNeel, 21, of 8994 Cannon Ridge Drive, Caitlin Marie Pilkington, 18, of 7017 Trappers Court, and Edward Raul Madrid, 20, of no fixed address were all arrested and charged with seven counts of destruction of property and one count of unlawful entry with intent to commit a hate crime.

Police are still searching for Adrian Mark Owens, 18, of 8465 Ivy Glen Court, who faces the same charges.

McNeel and Pilkington were released pending a court date on Dec. 10. Madrid is being held without bond until the Dec. 10 court date.