Robbery, Abduction By Teen Suspects Called ‘Brazen’ By Police

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Seven teenage suspects have been arrested on charges tied to a series of robberies and other crimes in the Springfield area, including the robbery of a gun store that Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis called "brazen."

“The word that comes to mind for the community and for the police department is ‘brazen,’” the chief said, during a news conference Friday morning. “That was a brazen crime committed tragically, sadly, by teenagers.”

Fairfax Police played surveillance video that showed a stolen Kia Soul repeatedly slamming head-on into the front of Dominion Defense, a gun store at 7200 Fullerton Road, Suite B in Springfield. The video then showed several people who wore hoodies and masks climbing through the broken front window of the store and loading armfuls of firearms into a Kia waiting nearby.

“That happened back in September,” Davis said. “Fourteen firearms were stolen during that burglary of the gun store. We've recovered eight, and that's good news. But there's six more out there, and those six more firearms out there in the wrong hands can do a lot of damage and a lot of harm.”

During the news conference police announced the arrest of seven people in connection with the gun store robbery on Sept. 20, as well as five other crimes in the Springfield and Lorton area and an abduction in Reston.

“Detectives worked around the clock with our federal partners, local agencies and other entities within the police department to identify those who committed the brazen crime,” said Major Elizabeth Melendez of FCPD’s Criminal Investigations Division. This brazen crime, the group of teenage suspects responsible for the gun store burglary were also tied to a string of additional violent crimes in our community in a short period of time.”

Between Sept. 7 and Sept. 22, the suspects committed multiple robberies, fired shots into two occupied dwellings, shot someone in the lower body, and abducted a woman from the parking lot of a Reston school, according to police. (Scroll down for more details about the crimes.)

With the help of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, detectives identified seven people involved in the series of crimes, most of whom were considered juveniles.

FCPD arrested the following people in connection with the seven criminal acts that occurred between Sept. 7 and Sept. 22, including the robbery at a Springfield gun store:

• A 16-year-old boy was charged with burglary, auto theft and 14 counts of grand larceny of a firearm.
• A 16-year-old boy was charged with burglary, auto theft and 14 counts of grand larceny of a firearm.
• A 13-year-old boy was charged with burglary, auto theft and 14 counts of grand larceny of a firearm.

Additional Connected Suspects

• Sylvanus Musa, 18, was charged with robbery, possession of stolen property and possession of a short barrel rifle.
• An 18-year-old man was charged with robbery, abduction, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, mob assault and petit larceny.
• A 15 -year-old boy was charged with robbery
• A 17-year-old girl was charged with robbery of a firearm in commission of a felony

Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to contact the Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 5. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), and by web – Click HERE. Download the ‘P3 Tips’ App “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for a cash reward. Please leave contact information if you wish for a detective to follow up with you.

Fairfax County Police released the following information about the seven crimes that occurred from Sept. 7 to Sept. 22.

• On September 7, at 7:22 p.m., Shopping Center Units responded to a robbery in the 6500 block of Springfield Mall in Springfield. The victims reported that a suspect brandished a firearm and took their phones. Officers located the juvenile suspects involved nearby and took them into custody.

• On September 18, while detectives were investigating the burglary at Dominion Defense, they discovered that the Kia Soul used in the burglary was stolen from the 7600 block of Oakridge Woods Court in Springfield prior to the incident.

• On September 18 at approximately 10:25 p.m., officers responded to the 9500 block of Hagel Circle in Lorton for a shot person call. Officers located a 19-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound to the lower body. He was transported to a local hospital with injuries considered non-life threatening. Multiple 9mm shell casings were located and collected for evidence.

• On September 19 at approximately 12:02 a.m., officers responded to the 7700 block of Matisse Way in Springfield for a shooting into an occupied dwelling call. Officers determined that two homes were struck. No one was harmed. Multiple 9mm shell casings were located and collected for evidence.

• On September 20 at 4:00 p.m., officers responded to the 1600 block of Beacontree Lane in Reston for an abduction report. Officers were contacted by school administration about an incident that occurred off school property. A student reported that they witnessed another student being assaulted with firearms on a video. Officers found the victim with non-life-threatening injuries near his home. The victim reported they were assaulted and robbed by multiple suspects. The weapons seen on the video were able to be tracked back to Dominion Defense.

• On September 21 at 1:52 a.m., officers responded to the 7800 block of Lambkin Court in Lorton for a Shooting into an Occupied dwelling call. The victims reported that someone shot into their home while they were inside. Both victims were unharmed. Multiple 9mm shell casing were located and collected for evidence.

• On September 22, at 11:32 a.m., officers responded to the 7700 block of Richmond Highway in Hybla Valley for a Robbery. The victim reported that he was robbed after meeting up with a suspect to purchase clothing. The victim reported that an AR style weapon was brandished and he was robbed. Officers located the involved vehicle a short distance away and took two suspects into custody. The rifle recovered was linked to the Dominion Defense burglary.