Crime & Safety
Shooting During High-Speed Chase Of Victims Leads To Sentence
Prosecutors say the woman chased victims in a vehicle pursuit and fired shots at their vehicle.
LAKE RIDGE, VA — A shooting coupled with a vehicle chase of two victims in Lake Ridge has led to a prison sentence for a woman, according to the Prince William County Commonwealth's Attorney.
Maryam Raza, 20, of Fairfax County, had been prosecuted on charges from a July 21, 2024 shooting. In February, Raza pleaded guilty to charges of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, maliciously shooting at a vehicle, discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle, and two counts of attempted malicious wounding.
On Friday, a judge in Prince William County Circuit Court sentenced Raza to 43 years in prison, with 35 suspended. That results in an eight-year sentence and five years of supervised probation and a term of uniform good behavior.
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"This gun violence will not be tolerated in Prince William County," said Commonwealth's Attorney Amy Ashworth. "If you use a gun to resolve a dispute, we will prosecute you and you will be held accountable. This was a terrifying act, and we are all grateful no one was killed."
The shooting stemmed from a party at a home on Purdham Drive the two victims were attending. When the victims encountered Raza at the party, a verbal argument ensued. Prosecutors say Raza displayed a gun during the encounter.
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The victims drove off from the home, but the vehicle's front windshield was hit by gunfire when stopped at a stop sign at Purdham Drive and Smoketown Road. Prosecutors say Raza was was standing on the side of the road armed with a gun.
As the victims drove out of the neighborhood, Raza got into her vehicle and began chasing them. A high-speed chase continued for several miles, and Raza fired multiple rounds at the vehicle. Two shots hit the back passenger door and window. At one point, the victims lost control of the vehicle and spun out near a 7-Eleven on Old Bridge Road. Raza stopped the pursuit and drove away.
According to prosecutors, Raza tried to hide her involvement and abandoned her vehicle at a commuter lot in Howard County, Maryland. An investigation by Prince William County Police identified Raza as the suspect, leading to her arrest at her Fairfax County home.
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