Teens Shot with BB Gun, Manassas Man Faces Charges

MANASSAS, Va. — A 14-year-old student on his way to Metz Middle School in Manassas was shot in the stomach.

Police say it happened Wednesday as the child was on his way to school. Here’s the police press release:

On June 4, 2014 Manassas City Police met with a student and school staff at Metz Middle School located at 9950 Wellington Rd for a report of a malicious wounding.  The victim, a 14-year-old male of Manassas, told officers that at approximately 7:10AM an unknown male approached him on a black, gray and white mountain bicycle when he was walking in the area of Rolling Rd and Country Ln. 

According to the victim, he was crossing the street outside of the crosswalk when the man approached, pointed to the crosswalk, and told the victim he should obey the law.  The suspect followed the victim to the bus stop where he proceeded to extract a BB gun from the backpack he was wearing and shot two pellets into the victim’s stomach area causing minor injury.  He then placed the BB gun back in his backpack and rode northward on Rolling Rd towards Sudley Rd.

Manassas School Superintendent Catherine Magouyrk issued a statement on the school system’s website about the shooting and noted it was not an isolated incident. 

In fact, Manassas police reported yesterday that another child was shot in the chest with a BB gun.

Here’s the police report:

On May 13, 2014 Manassas City Police met with a resident for a report of a malicious wounding.  According to the reporting party, he and his sister were walking in the area of their residence on the 9500 block of Jayhawk Ter at approximately 2:45PM on May 13^th when an unknown man approached them on a bicycle. 

The man initially asked for directions and said he had a map in the backpack he was wearing. When he reached into his backpack, he instead extracted a BB gun and shot the victim, a 15-year-old male of Manassas, in the chest, causing minor injury. 

The offender then apologized, saying his intention was to play a prank, and left in an unknown direction of travel.

Description of suspect: Hispanic male in his mid-20s, approximately 5’5” with a stocky build, slight facial hair, and no accent.  At the time of the incident he was carrying a backpack and was last seen wearing a baseball hat, sunglasses, a white t-shirt, and jeans.

Police say they’ve charged one man in connection to both cases:

As a result of these investigations, Manassas City Detectives were able to locate the suspect from both cases at his residence at approximately 2:30PM on June 4^th.  Raul SOTO, 24, of 9973 Shallow Creek Loop #102, Manassas, VA 20109 was placed under arrest and charged with two counts of malicious wounding.  SOTO was held on no bond.  His court date is unavailable at this time.