Police investigate double shooting in Dale City
Police are searching for two gunmen who forced their way into a Dale City home late Friday and shot two men.
The victims, one 25 years old and the other 33, suffered life-threatening injuries and were flown by helicopter to local trauma centers after the 11:20 p.m. attack in the 14700 block of Elmira Court in Dale City, said Prince William County police spokeswoman Erika Hernandez.
Police were called to the house in the Darbydale section of Dale City at 11:23 p.m. for a report of a shooting in progress. Hernandez said the gunmen kicked open the front door of the house, ordered everyone inside onto the floor and shot the two victims.
The culprits are still on the loose. One is described as black with reddish hair and freckles. The other was also black and has a goatee and sideburns.
Hernandez said it appears the victims and the gunmen knew each other.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call police at 703-792-6500 or Crime Solvers at 703-670-3700. Callers don’t have to give their names, just the information. Tips leading to arrest could earn a cash reward of up to $1,000.
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to respond to others comments i happen to know for sure they kept them there that long and of course you have to investigate but to totally destroy the home is unjustified. All are suspects but everyone should be treated with dignity. Random shootings and murders happen everyday unfortunatley!
My neighborhood has finally seen the last of a particular group of young thugs that moved in about a year ago. These punks and pukes openly brought about the use and sale of drugs, drunkenness, contributing to minors, weapons, loud parties, trash, RATS, and unwanted sub-humans lurking around. Many of us got our heads/ voices together and called police every single night (and day) left messages with Commanders of the police shifts, wrote Associations, and made our presence known to the offenders. While at one point we felt as though our voices may fall on deaf ears… We continued to take pictures, make calls, blast the police commanders in charge. Now, after many warnings and arrests… The eviction has been served AND the landlord has been placed on notice by a community that will not stand for it! So once again (for a little while) we have sent the criminals packing. People MUST be vigilant ... Be a voice in the community and play an ACTIVE role in your neighborhood. If you do not pursue criminal activity swiftly soon you will lose your peace, your security and you hand your neighborhood over to criminals that will then dictate your every move to only leave you in fear. Crime breeds like rabbits. If you are a homeowner, the curbside appeal is gone honey. You see something that is illegal, think it may be illegal, or is unusual activity ... Call the police and start the ball rolling. I have NO sympathy for those who turn a blind eye or say things like ‘The police do not do anything’ ... Or ‘It’s probably nothing to worry about’. Stay on it, write email’s, make calls, define your resources and put them to use!
Mad Mama Do you really think that anyone believes that two shooting victims were taken to the police station for 6 to 8 hours? They were taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital, and if your house was torn apart that because it is a crime scene. And how do you figure “racial profiling”? Two people are shot and the police respond and somehow that is considered “profiling”. Get real.
Mad Mama,
From the police’s perspective, anyone in that house could have been one of the shooters so I can appreciate that they didn’t treat the “victims” as run of the mill fistfight victims at the local food court.
Regarding use of the word “victims”, these types of execution-style crimes don’t happen just happen to random innocent people! There is usually a history, and the police have said everyone knew each other. It seems clear that the shooters had a reason to shoot the “victims”, and while not justified, the “victims” are probably not the most savory individuals.
You said it yourself. DRUGS are 99% to blame, and I’m willing to bet that was at play here. Call it profiling, I don’t care. It’s based on fact.
My concern is the lack of efforts in tracking down the suspects… I still haven’t seen much police activity in the area… sad.
I AM SO SICK OF THE POLICE AND THERE PROFILING, THEY DETROYED THE VICTIMS HOUSE AND TOOK THEM TO THE POLICE STATION FOR 6 TO 8 HOURS INSTEAD OF LOOKING FOR THE SUSPECTS. IT JUST HAD TO BE DRUG RELATED AND IT PROBABLY WAS THE SUSPECTS ARE DRUGGIES AND NEEDED MONEY. THE VICTIMS WERE TREATED LIKE CRIMINALS. WHAT THE HECK IS THAT ABOUT????
The community can’t even find out what’s going on when something happens and don’t know what to look for,if there’s a suspect running around thier neighborhood.If there were community crimewatchers,with designated callers in each community,they could be contacted quickly and make calls in the neighborhood affected,on what and who to watch out for.It’s just a matter of looking out your window and letting police know if you see something.So basically,your extra eyes for the police.
The community needs to become proactive.I wonder if PWPD could start having community meetings,even every few months.If they do,I’ve never heard about it.Try to get the community involved in helping stop crime.It’s the community that sees these things everyday where they live.People standing around outside with cellphones,a car pulls up from Maryland or DC,picks someone up and drops them back,pretty obvious what’s going on.Start making a list of licenses numbers,turn them in to police if you suspect drug activity out of the home.I have no problem giving information,rather than waiting for a drive by shooting with innocent neighbors all around.It’s time people stop turning thier heads,because it could be your home broken into or home invasion,stolen car or broken into.These druggies need money to buy thier drugs.If they want to stop the crime,they need to set up community meetings,spread the word,flyers on cars and doors,announced on cable,like CNN local spot,newspaper and radio.You might not get a big response at first,but it will grow in time,people are sick of being victims and so many live in fear.Step up and fight back.
Did the police set up any kind of command center for this manhunt? I haven’t really seen much of a police presence in this area at all. When the double shooting at the PRTC terminal occurred, they had helicopters flying everywhere, a command center set up in the old circuit city lot, and police were on every corner for for hours.
I have not seen this with these shootings for some reason. I want to know why.
Does this newspaper update on the weekends? LOL Chris Cummings
Newsie, you bring up some valid points. But, in order to get rid of the drug flow, there are many more things that needs to be done. Some solutions are more complex than others. The only true way to rid this place of the drug flow is to stop the demand. If people would stop using and abusing drugs, there would be no demand for it. As long as people want it, drugs will continue to flow into the area. Honestly, this idea will never happen. There will always be drug use and there will always be this problem. The best way to kill the snake is to cut off its head. Cutting the demand of the public completely is the only way to truly stop the problem around here. Like I said, that idea is never going to happen.
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