Shots Fired At High School Leads To Fredericksburg Man's Arrest

ARLINGTON, VA — A 33-year-old Fredericksburg man is facing multiple firearm charges in connection to a shooting that occurred at an Arlington high school on Saturday night, according to authorities.

Officers with the Arlington County Police Department responded around 6:58 p.m for the report of a person with a gun at Wakefield High School, according to police.

The officers determined that when the male victim tried to access a sports field, he was confronted by another man. After arguing with the victim, the suspect threatened him and went to his vehicle to retrieve a firearm. He then fired the gun into the air before driving off in his vehicle, according to ACPD. No injuries were reported.

The officers then searched the area for the suspect, whom they identified as Mark Hutcherson of Fredericksburg, locating him in the area of South George Mason Drive and South Dinwiddie Street. As police were taking Hutcherson into custody, they recovered a firearm, according to authorities.

Hutcherson had a bail hearing on Monday and is scheduled to be arraigned in Arlington General District Court at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, according to court records.

In addition to facing a misdemeanor charge of reckless handling of a firearm, Hutchenson also faces felony charges of brandishing a firearm on school grounds, possession of a weapon on school property, and discharging a firearm near a school, according to court documents

The first two charges are class 6 felonies, each of which carries a possible penalty of one to five years in prison or confinement in jail for up to 12 months, along with a potential fine of up to $2,500, under the Code of Virginia.

Discharging a firearm near a school is the most serious charge. A class 4 felony, it carries a possible prison sentence of two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.