Reston Homicide Suspect Faces Federal Weapons Charge: ICE

RESTON, VA — A Reston man charged with second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of 40-year-old Marvin Ernesto Morales on Dec. 17, also faces a federal weapons charge, according to authorities.

On Dec. 23, Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, obtained an arrest warrant for Marvin Fernando Morales Ortez, 23, on a charge of being an alien illegally present in the U.S., who was in possession of a firearm, according to court records. If convicted, he faces a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

“This office is resolute in enforcing the immigration laws of the United States, and we will vigorously prosecute individuals who commit acts of violence in our communities,” said Halligan, in a release on Monday. “We are committed to holding accountable those who choose to ignore our laws and threaten or harm our residents. Protecting the public is the highest priority of the Eastern District of Virginia, and that mission is best accomplished through close cooperation among federal, state, and local law enforcement partners.”

At the time the warrant was issued, Morales Ortez was in the custody of the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office, awaiting a March 11, 2026, preliminary hearing in Fairfax County General District Court.

The county clerk's office told Patch on Tuesday morning that Morales Ortez was still in custody in Fairfax County.

In an affidavit in support of a criminal complaint, a deportation officer with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Chantilly reported that the Department of Homeland Security had identified Morales Ortez as a native and citizen of El Salvador.

In September 2016, a then 14-year-old Morales Ortez was arrested with his mother near Hidalgo, Texas, after entering the U.S. illegally, according to the affidavit. They were both photographed, fingerprinted, and each issued FBI and alien numbers.

Related: Victim In Reston Fatal Shooting Identified By Police

On Dec. 17, Fairfax County police responded to the report of a shooting at a residence in the 12000 block of Fan Shell Court in Reston, according to the incident report. Morales was found suffering from gunshot wounds inside the home by police and declared dead.

Video footage obtained by FCPD showed Morales Ortez fleeing the scene, the deportation agent wrote. Police later located the suspect on a trail behind Breton Court and Reston and took him into custody, according to the affidavit.

During the arrest, police seized a Glock model 43x 9mm caliber handgun in a holster in Morales Ortez's waistband, the ICE agent wrote.

Comparing Morales Ortez's mugshot and fingerprints obtained by FCPD after a Sept. 14 arrest, the ICE agent confirmed they matched the photo and fingerprints taken in 2016.

The day before the shooting in Reston, Morales-Ortez had been in Fairfax County General District Court for a preliminary hearing on charges of brandishing a firearm and felony malicious wounding, according to police. He was arrested Sept. 14 for an incident that occurred on Sept. 12.

On Dec. 16, the prosecutor dropped the charges and Morales-Ortez was released from custody, according to court records.

Fairfax County police were aware that Morales-Ortez had been released, according to posts on the department's official X account.

Following his release, a Community Services Board clinician obtained an emergency custody order for Morales-Ortez, which was issued by a magistrate and valid for eight hours, according to police.

"FCPD Reston District patrol officers were then dispatched to serve the ECO and take Morales-Ortez into custody," according to the X post. "FCPD patrol officers responded to the address of record for Morales-Ortez and did not locate him at his residence. The ECO expired shortly thereafter."

Morales-Ortez had two earlier hearings in Fairfax County that ended with the charges being dropped.

On Oct. 8, 2020, he was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of assault and battery, according to court records. Following two hearings and a case review in Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, the prosecutor dropped the charge and Morales-Ortez was released to the custody of a family member.

On Aug. 21, 2023, Morales-Ortez was arrested in Fairfax County and charged with disorderly conduct and assault and battery, according to court records. The charges were dropped in Fairfax County General District Court on Aug. 22, 2024 and Morales-Ortez was released on his own recognizance.