Assault, Shooting Outside Woodbridge Bar Linked To Motorcycle Gang, 19 People

WOODBRIDGE, VA — An April assault and shooting outside a Woodbridge sports bar has been linked to 19 people and a motorcycle gang. Prince William County Police are in the process of executing search warrants and arresting the people facing charges in the case.

Around 1:06 a.m. on April 13, police responded to a shooting at Babylon Café (3081 Golansky Blvd in Woodbridge). A police investigation found a fight occurred in the parking lot, leading to shots being fired. Officers found a 42-year-old man with non-life threatening injuries from a physical altercation, and a second 41-year-old man arrived at the hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound in the arm. Both were not cooperative with police initially about what led to the fight and shooting.

Since then, police have tied the incident to the Wheels of Soul motorcycle gang. Police say the 42-year-old man was forcibly removed to the parking lot from the sports bar by gang members, who assaulted him. Gang members remained in the parking lot, and the victim's acquaintance confronted them. That led to an exchange of gunfire with more than 80 rounds fired.

On Wednesday, Prince William County Police and other law enforcement were executing search warrants in the case. There are 19 people either arrested or wanted on charges in the case. Police have not yet released names and charges of the arrested suspects.

Search warrants are being conducted in the Woodbridge, Manassas, and Nokesville areas of Prince William County as well as locations in Stafford, Linden, Falls Church and the Hampton Roads region in Virginia, and Philadelphia. Specific locations of searches have not yet been released due to the active investigation.

Hundreds of law enforcement officers assisted in the large-scale operation, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the Virginia State Police; the Fairfax County Police Department; and the Philadelphia Police Department.

"This operation was successful due to the hard work of PWCPD detectives, and our law enforcement partners from across the region," said Police Chief Peter Newsham in a statement. "I am pleased with all of those who were part [of] the investigation and that violent offenders will be held accountable for their actions. This should also send a clear message to businesses operating in the County that they must do so safely and within the law."