Victim In Reston Fatal Shooting Identified By Police

RESTON, VA — Fairfax County police identified 40-year-old Marvin Ernesto Morales as the victim in Wednesday's fatal shooting in Reston, according to authorities.

Officers responded around 11:40 a.m. to investigate a shooting at a residence in the 12000 block of Fan Shell Court. Morales was found at the home by police and declared deceased, according to the incident report.

Investigators determined that 23-year-old Marvin Fernando Morales-Ortez of Reston had entered the home, shot Morales and fled the scene before police arrived, according to the report.

With the help of FCPD's Special Operations Division, the Real Time Crime Center and Fairfax 1 Helicopter, as well as the drone and K9 units, police located Morales-Ortez nearby and took him into custody, according to police.

At the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, Morales-Ortez was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony, according to police. He was then held without bond.

Moreles-Ortez was arraigned Thursday morning in Fairfax County General District Court and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for 2 p.m. on March 11, 2026, according to court records.

Morales-Ortez had previously lived in the home in the 12300 block of Fan Shell Court where Wednesday's deadly shooting occurred.

Charges Dropped In 3 Earlier Court Hearings

The day before the shooting, 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 Tuesday, 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.

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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.