The arrest of Jose Rafael Lizama, a 47-year-old resident of Manassas Park, has stirred concerns following the death of Justin Burns on December 2, 2023.

Burns, a beloved figure known for his altruism and community service, was fatally struck by a drunk driver while walking the streets near Old Town Sports Pub in Downtown Manassas.

Prince William County Adult Detention Center Superintendent Peter Meletis shared pertinent details regarding Lizama’s time in custody. Police arrested Lizama immediately following the crash on December 2, 2023, when he was arrested for driving while intoxicated. Astonishingly, he was released the very next day on a personal recognizance.

This decision now raises questions from the victim’s mother, Kim Burns, about how this case was handled.

Police arrested Lizama a second time on February 2, 2024, when Lizama, this time facing charges of involuntary manslaughter in connection to Burns’ death. However, Lizama was released on February 5, 2024, upon posting a $5,000 secured bond, said Meleits.

Potomac Local asked Prince William County Commonwealth Attorney Amy Ashworth why Lizama was released from jail and about the timeline and circumstances surrounding Lizama’s initial arrest. If Lizama was indeed arrested on December 2, 2023, as indicated in preliminary reports, questions abound as to why he was released expeditiously despite the gravity of the allegations against him.

Reviewing camera footage from the crime scene took weeks, including cell phone video. Police had to obtain warrants to view some of the video, which prolonged the investigation, said Manassas police Sgt. Brett Strumpf.

Moreover, questions regarding the measures taken by the court to ensure Lizama’s compliance with legal proceedings and to mitigate the risk of recurrence while he’s out on bond have arisen. Concerns regarding Lizama’s propensity for driving under the influence and the potential dangers posed to the community necessitate proactive measures to safeguard public safety and uphold the law.

“This is an active case, and therefore, I will not make any statement to the media until the matter is concluded,” Ashworth wrote in an email to Potomac Local.

The top prosecutor forwarded our list of questions to her Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) officer, who also stonewalled our investigation, noting our records order was denied due to provisions in § 2.2-3706.1, which exclude disclosure of criminal investigative files related to ongoing cases. The office aims to promote governmental transparency and confirm compliance with the request, she added.

Justin Burns lived in Blackstone, Va., and was an Osbourn Park High School graduate in Manassas. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from West Virginia University.

On the night of his death, Burns had planned to meet with some high school friends at the Old Town Sports Pub, who were in town for a class reunion, Burn’s mother told Potomac Local.

He was deeply involved in his community, volunteering with organizations such as the City of Manassas Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and founding Succor Solutions, Inc., a nonprofit specializing in disaster recovery and economic development.

Burns was remembered as a Renaissance man dedicated to service, adventure, and compassion. He is survived by his parents, Roger and Kim, sister Clare Davitt, brother Nicolas, nephew Nicolas Montgomery, and numerous extended family members.

Lizama is due in Prince William County General District Court on March 8, 2024, on charges of inventory manslaughter and DWI at 11:30 a.m. The open proceeding will occur at the courthouse, 9311 Lee Avenue in Manassas.

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Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney, Amy Ashworth, announced the successful prosecution of Sean Hughes following an April 19, 2023, shooting incident in Triangle. After a trial held on February 2, 2024, a Prince William County jury rendered a verdict of guilty against Hughes on multiple charges, including shooting into an occupied dwelling, shooting from a vehicle, attempted malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, gang participation, gang recruitment, and use of a machine gun for an aggressive purpose.

The case stemmed from an alarming incident last year when Hughes, accompanied by a juvenile co-defendant, unleashed gunfire at a home in Triangle. The barrage of bullets struck a woman inside multiple times, narrowly missing Detective S. Davis and another bystander who were present at the scene. Following the shooting, Hughes and the juvenile fled the area, but police arrested him in Maryland. During the arrest, one of the firearms implicated in the shooting was recovered from the suspects.

Notably, investigations revealed Hughes’s affiliation with the criminal street gang, the Bloods.

Hughes awaits sentencing by a Prince William County Circuit Court Judge on May 23, 2024. This phase of the case will determine Hughes’s consequences for his actions, providing an opportunity for closure and accountability for the victims and their families.

The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney extended its appreciation to Tammie Thomas, Director of the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Victim/Witness Program, whose invaluable support has assisted the victims and their families throughout this challenging ordeal.

Additionally, it commended the efforts of the Prince William County Police Department, particularly Master Detective D. Cupka, Detective J. Dalbeck, and Detective D. Sekely, whose dedication contributed significantly to the investigation and prosecution of this case.

Amy Ashworth is the elected Commonwealth’s Attorney for Prince William County and Manassas and Manassas Park cities. She was elected in November 2019 and was re-elected in 2023 for another four-year term.

Prince William County Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney: “Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth announces the successful prosecution of Jacob Belotti arising from the February 2018 death of Dustin Lueker in Haymarket, Virginia. Mr. Belotti pled not guilty to three charges and after a three-day jury trial, was convicted of Felony Murder and Distribution of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance.”

“On the afternoon of Sunday, February 25, 2018, Prince William County Fire and Rescue and Police responded to Youngs Drive in Haymarket for a 911 call regarding an unresponsive individual. Dustin Lueker was found dead on the living room floor of Mr. Belotti’s residence. Mr. Belotti claimed the two had consumed alcohol and gone to bed the day before and that when he awoke, his friend was dead. One eyewitness later came forward to challenge Mr. Belotti’s version of events and eventually police determined that multiple individuals had partied with Belotti and Lueker, initially at Mr. Lueker’s apartment and then at Mr. Belotti’s house.”

Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth: “The commonwealth attorney’s office announces the successful prosecution of Gentil Mwenze Banze arising from the June 18, 2022, accident that killed a Lake Ridge man and his dog. On July 6, 2023, Gentil Mwenze Banze pled guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter while Driving Under the Influence. The case was heard by Judge James A. Willett of the Prince William County Circuit Court.”

“On November 16, 2023, Mr. Banze was sentenced by Judge Willett to 10 years in prison, the maximum term allowable under the law, and three years of active probation following his release from prison. The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Sarah Sami.”

Commonwealth v. Gentil Mwenze Banze: “In the early evening hours of June 18, 2022, the Defendant, Gentil Mwenze Banze, was driving his motor vehicle westbound on Old Bridge Road. Witnesses described the Defendant’s vehicle as swerving in and out of his lane of travel, almost striking other vehicles, before veering to the right and leaving the roadway. The Defendant’s vehicle entered the sidewalk and struck a pedestrian, Mr. Luis Alfredo Perez, Jr., who had been out walking the family dog that evening. After the Defendant struck Mr. Perez, Jr. and his dog, he crashed into the utility pole located in the area of Cape Cod Ct, bringing down live power lines causing an audible and visible explosion on Old Bridge Rd.”

“Investigator Chad Mason of the Prince William County Crash Investigation Unit noted that the Defendant had an odor of alcoholic beverage coming from his person, had a slight sway to his body as he was standing, had bloodshot and watery eyes, and exhibited signs of impairment in all three standardized field sobriety tests that he attempted. The Defendant later admitted to drinking Guinness Beer prior to driving and testing later confirmed the Defendant’s blood alcohol content to be 0.11g/210L of breath approximately three hours after the crash had occurred. Unfortunately, both Mr. Perez Jr. and his dog succumbed to the injuries they sustained as a result of the crash.”

“The Office of the Commonwealth Attorney would like to commend and thank the Prince William County Crash Investigation Unit, particularly Investigator Chad Mason for their investigation of the case, and Arturo Guzman, Case Manager for the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney Victim/Witness program for the assistance provided to the victim’s family.”

The Office of the Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney: “On October 16, 2023, the Honorable Judge Kimberly A. Irving, Chief Judge of the Prince William County Circuit Court, found Desmond Daniel guilty of two counts of first-degree murder following his guilty plea to the charges. The Defendant will be sentenced on March 14, 2024. Members of the victims’ families will present victim impact testimony at that time. The Defendant faces a maximum sentence of two life terms in prison.”

“On November 16, 2022, Prince William County Police responded to Isle Royale Terrace, in [near Dumfries] after neighbors reported hearing multiple gunshots. Police arrived at the scene to find two gunshot victims in the basement of the home. One victim, a 22-year-old Woodbridge woman, was pronounced dead at the scene. The other, a 24-year-old Woodbridge man, was taken to an area hospital where he was later pronounced dead. A family dog was also located in the basement suffering from gunshot wounds and had to be euthanized.

“Through Ring camera footage recovered at the scene, it was determined that Desmond Daniel had shot through the basement window, entered through the window, shot in the direction of the victims, and left through the same window. The investigation revealed that Mr. Daniel was involved in a romantic relationship with the 22-year-old woman, who had broken up with him a few days earlier. The 24-year-old man that was killed was her friend. Investigation also revealed several posts on social media by Mr. Daniel displaying his firearms and making threats several hours before the shooting. Investigators, in partnership with Virginia State Police, were able to locate Mr. Daniel near Dulles International Airport following Mr. Daniel’s purchase of a one-way ticket to Panama.”

“Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth offered the following comment: “This case was such a horrible tragedy. Our community lost two young adults to senseless gun violence. We are grateful for the hard work done by the police who worked quickly to apprehend Mr. Daniel before he left the country. Excellent police work allowed us to resolve this case without putting the victims’ families through a trial. Mr. Daniel accepted responsibility for his actions by entering guilty pleas to two first-degree murder charges. He will face the consequences of his actions on March 14, 2024, at the sentencing hearing.”

“The Office of the Commonwealth Attorney would like to commend and thank the Prince William County Police Department, particularly Detectives Matthew Andersen and Shailee Davis, for their investigation and work that successfully resulted in convictions in this case. In addition, the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney would like to thank Christy Reynolds, Case Manager for the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney Victim/Witness Program, for the assistance that she provided to the victim’s family. This case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Kathleen Bilton.”

Press Release: “Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth announces the successful prosecution of Cody Dale Davis arising from the February 2, 2021, aggravated malicious wounding of a Dumfries woman.”

“On April 7, 2023, after a three-day trial jury trial and subsequent 10-minute jury deliberation, Mr. Davis was convicted of one count of aggravated malicious wounding. On September 21, 2023, Mr. Davis was sentenced by Judge Willett of the Prince William County Circuit Court to life in prison. The matter was prosecuted by Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Dircia D. Schubert and Deputy Chief of Staff Kevin L. Leahy.”

“During the early morning hours of February 2, 2021, medics and officers from the Prince William County Police Department were dispatched to a residence in Dumfries. Located within the residence was the victim laying in a pool of blood suffering from severe facial lacerations and blunt force trauma to her eyes. The Defendant, Mr. Cody Dale Davis, and three minor children were also located within the residence.”

“Investigation revealed that the Defendant attacked the victim while she was defenseless and unsuspecting. The Defendant beat the victim and gouged her eyes causing permanent blindness. Medical experts testified about the devastating injuries suffered by the victim including facial fractures, a nasal fracture, and fracture to her orbital socket.”

“Commonwealth’s Attorney Ashworth released the following statement: ‘Justice was served in this case. The Defendant’s sentence is appropriate given the gruesome and shockingly violent nature of the attack. Assaults like this cannot and will not be tolerated in our community.’?The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney would like to commend the Prince William County Police Department, especially Officer Hume and Officer Takats for their investigation of the case as well as Kristen Marek, Deputy Director of the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Victim/Witness Program, for the assistance provided to the victim’s family.”

Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth: “Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth announces the sentencing of Adrian Kendall Bryant on the first-degree murder conviction arising from the July 12, 2021, murder of a 17-year-old juvenile in Woodbridge, Virginia and the successful prosecution of Paul England for the February 2023 stabbing that occurred in Woodbridge, Virginia.”

“On July 12, 2021, at approximately 11 am, Adrian Kendall Bryant met with the juvenile victim, along with two other individuals at a location on Still Place in Prince William County. Several homeowners’ cameras captured the brief interaction between the juvenile and Mr. Bryant, who produced a handgun and fired three shots at the juvenile victim, hitting him twice.”

Amy Ashworth was on the ropes for most of a political debate between her and challenger Matt Lowery, each vying to run the Prince William County Commonwealth Attorney's Office.

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Republicans are making Prince William County's skyrocketing crime and murder rates a key campaign issue.

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