Dranesville Fatal Shooting Suspect In Custody; 2nd Man Sought: Police

DRANESVILLE, VA — A suspect who authorities believe was involved in a fatal shooting Monday morning in Dranesville has turned himself in to police, according to Fairfax County officials.

Although police believe there was a single shooter, they are looking for a suspect who fled from officers at about the same time in another part of the community, Assistant Chief Robert Blakley said during a news conference at the shooting scene.

Police responded to the 12700 block of Fantasia Drive near Dranesville for the report of a shooting that occurred just after 5 a.m. They found a man suffering from a gunshot wound inside his vehicle, according to police.

"Officers saturated the area and were able to take a person into custody who we do believe is the shooter involved in this incident," Blakley said. "So, that adult male is in custody at this time, and the adult male that was shot in the vehicle was transported to a local hospital, where he has been pronounced deceased."

Multiple residents reported hearing gunfire and began calling 911 after 5 a.m., according to Blakley. They provided a description of a vehicle fleeing the area. About a block away from the victim's vehicle, police found a crashed vehicle they believe was involved in the shooting. As officers spread out around the area, the suspect turned himself in.

"That suspect has made statements that makes us believe that he is the shooter in this incident," Blakley said. "We do not believe this is a random act of violence, and we do not believe that there is a threat to the community at this time."

As police began their investigation, an officer reported seeing a vehicle that was driving erratically on the other side of the community, Blakley said. The officer tried to make a traffic stop, but the driver fled the vehicle on foot, running into a wooded area nearby.

"We're still looking for that person at this time," Blakley said. "We have not come to find out who that person is, so it's unknown if there is a relationship between that person and the shooter in this case, but we are working to figure that out."

Police described the person they're looking for as a man with curly hair, who stood about 5-foot-9 in height and was wearing all dark clothing.

"We know where that vehicle belongs," he said. "We know where the registered owner lives. We know that that is relatively close to where the vehicle was abandoned. So, we are working through all of those leads to try to identify the driver and their relationship, but based on all the statements made by our shooter and others, we feel very confident in the fact that there was a single shooter involved in this, and that shooter is in custody."

The shooting does not appear to be a carjacking nor a random act, Blakely told reporters. Police are investigating the shooting as a targeted act of violence.

Police have not released the suspect's name or the identity of the victim in this case.