Students arrested for gang activity and conspiracy to commit murder

Seven Manassas teens and one adult were arrested for numerous gang crimes this week. Police are searching for one suspect still at large, Manassas police report.

Police report on Tuesday, March 4 a 16-year-old Osbourn High School student and his father reported to school administration and School Resource Officer T. J. Rodriquez that he had recently joined a gang.

The student advised that on Friday, Feb. 29 he was "jumped" into the gang, after school near the intersection of Main Street and Wood Drift Circle. The gang initiation involved six other Osbourn students ages 14-to-18. The student informed Officer Rodriquez that he joined the gang for protection because his home was broken into on February 27, 2008 by rival gang members and two guns were stolen, according to a police press release.

The Northern VA Gang Task Force was notified to assist. During the investigation, Detective W. Bombara and Officer Rodriquez identified the six gang members involved in the gang initiation of the 16-year-old. As a result, five juveniles ages 14-to-17 and one adult, Dwaynne Anthony SMITH, age 18, of 9712 Beech Place, Manassas were arrested and search warrants were executed at their homes in Manassas. All subjects were charged with gang participation, assault by mob, gang activity in a school zone and recruitment of a juvenile for criminal street gang. All are being held without bond, pending court dates.

During the burglary investigation, Detective D. Abbott discovered that this incident was a planned event and over the last month, the 16-year-old has been soliciting gang members to have his father killed. He instructed them to break into his home to obtain the guns to be used in his father's murder. The juveniles solicited the help of fellow gang member Robert Lee Williams, 24, of 9053 McClellan Commons, Manassas to commit the burglary. Williams is still at large.

The 16-year-old and two other juvenile gang members, ages 16 to 17, were arrested and search warrants were executed at their homes. Two were charged with Solicitation / Conspiracy to Commit Murder and one charged with Conspiracy to Commit Burglary. Further charges are pending.

This was a joint effort of the following agencies: Manassas City Police, Northern VA Gang Task Force, Prince William County / Manassas City / Manassas Park Vice & Narcotics Task Force, Prince William County Police Gang Unit, U.S. Marshalls Fugitive Task Force.

John J. Skinner, Chief of Police stated: “I am very proud of the extensive investigative efforts of our officers, detectives and Task Forces that resulted in the immediate and successful arrests of these dangerous individuals. These arrests send a strong message that gang activity will not be tolerated and individuals involved will be prosecuted to the fullest extent by law”.