Teen Suspect Charged in Rose Hill Area Homicide: Police

PHOTO of John Martin Mercado, 19, courtesy of FCPD

________

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA -- A teenager has been charged with murder in connection with the death of William G. Martines-Palma of Springfield, police said Tuesday.

Fairfax County Police detectives charged John Martin Mercado, 19, of the 6800 block of Ben Franklin Road in Springfield, with murder on Monday, in connection with the death of Martines-Palma, 29, on March 25, police said.

Martines-Palma was found stabbed and unresponsive on a trail in the 5100 block of Celtic Drive in the Rose Hill area of Fairfax County.

See: Fatal Stabbing in Rose Hill Area

Mercado was also charged with malicious wounding, stemming from an incident on March 27. Although an arrest has been made, detectives are still actively investigating these cases and are attempting to determine exactly how they are related.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Crime Solvers electronically by visiting http://www.crimesolvers.org or text-a-tip by texting “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES(274637)**or by calling 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or call Fairfax County Police at703-691-2131.