The Dumfries Town Council received a presentation on the new Dumfries Citizen Connect app, presented by Kevin Strauss of GoGov, during its January 9, 2024 meeting.

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The bodies of Nicholas Allen Smith Withrow, 42, and Brittnee Yvonne Posey, 30, were found inside a home in Triangle.

Police said Withrow shot and killed Posey, his wife, then shot and killed himself. Posey’s death is the second homicide in Prince William County in 2024.

More from police:

“Murder/Suicide Investigation *DECEASED IDENTIFIED | INCIDENT DETAILS – Detectives are continuing to investigate the deaths of two adults who were located inside a residence in the 18300 block of Cabin Rd. in Triangle (22172) on January 14. The preliminary investigation has revealed the two deceased were located by family members who had received concerning texts indicating the two were having an argument. At this time investigators believe the altercation escalated between the two parties who are husband and wife. During the argument, the husband, identified as Nicholas Allen SMITH WITHROW, shot his wife, Brittnee Yvonne POSEY, before shooting himself. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. A three-year-old girl was inside the residence at the time and was unharmed. The child was released to the custody of family members.”

Identified:

The deceased were identified as Nicholas Allen SMITH WITHROW, 42, and Brittnee Yvonne POSEY, 30, both of Triangle”

The first homicide in Prince William County in 2024 was 24-year-old Desire Alexandria Buggs, 24, who died at a local hospital after suffering gunshot wounds.

Original post from Prince William police:

“Death Investigation – On January 14 at 6:09PM, officers responded to a residence located in the 18300 block of Cabin Rd. in Triangle (22026) to investigate a death. When officers arrived at the home, they located two individuals, a 42-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman, inside the residence suffering from gunshot wounds. Both parties were known to one another and were pronounced dead on scene. At this time, the incident appears to involve the two parties and was isolated to the residence. A firearm was recovered on scene by officers. There is no threat to the community. The investigation continues.”

A knife found at Potomac Senior High School on January 3, 2024, was not passed through a metal detector.

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Prince William police reported the following incidents:

“Shooting Investigation – On January 10 at 9:24 p.m., officers responded to investigate a shooting that reportedly occurred in the area of Cloverdale Road and Dodson Drive in [Dale City] earlier that evening. Officers were initially called to an area hospital where a 20-year-old man was being treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. The preliminary investigation revealed the man was walking in the above area when he heard gunfire before being struck in the leg. After being injured, the man contacted a family member who brought him to an area hospital. Officers checked the area, locating no evidence of a shooting. No additional calls were received regarding gunfire. The man refused to cooperate further with detectives regarding the incident. Anyone with information to aid investigators in this investigation is asked to contact police.”

“Aggravated Malicious Wounding | Armed Robbery *ARREST – On January 10, 2024, the second suspect sought in connection to the shooting that was reported to have occurred in the 16900 block of Francis West Lane in Dumfries on December 17, 2023, was arrested. The accused, identified as a 17-year-old male juvenile, turned himself into the police without incident. Another juvenile was previously arrested in December in connection with this investigation. Arrested on January 10, 2024: [Juvenile] A 17-year-old male juvenile of Dumfries. Charged with robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Court Date: Pending | Status: Held at the Juvenile Detention Center.”

“Aggravated Malicious Wounding | Armed Robbery [Previously Released] – On December 17 at 12:07 p.m., officers responded to the 16900 block of Francis West Lane in Dumfries to investigate a shooting. The investigation revealed the victim, a 23-year-old man, arranged to purchase marijuana in the above area from an acquaintance, identified as the accused. During the encounter, the victim and a 16-year-old male juvenile passenger were inside a vehicle when the accused and an unknown male, possibly a juvenile, approached the vehicle brandishing firearms. The 23-year-old victim grabbed the firearm from the accused which lead to a struggle. At one point, a round fired, striking the 23-year-old victim. Both suspects then took money and a backpack from the victims before fleeing on foot. The victims drove out of the area and contacted the police. The victim was treated at an area hospital for a non-life threatening injury. A police K-9 searched the area for the suspects who were not located. No additional injuries or property damage were reported. While investigating the incident, detectives identified the accused as a 16-year-old male juvenile who was taken into custody the next day. Detectives also identified the second suspect as a 17-year-old male juvenile and obtained detention orders. Attempts to locate the second suspect have been unsuccessful.”

“Shooting into a Residential Dwelling – On January 11 at 6:16 a.m., officers responded to a residence located in the 2700 block of Myrtlewood Drive in Dumfries to investigate a shots fired call. The investigation revealed the homeowner woke to gunfire and located a hole in the headboard of their bed. A bullet fragment was recovered by officers. No injuries or additional property damage were reported.”

 

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Updated at noon: All lanes of I-95 reopened at 11:45 a.m.

Original post: A jackknifed tractor-trailer is causing a significant back on Interstate 95 at Dumfries.  Traffic is backed up for five miles.

From VDOT: “Dumfries: 95SB at Route 234: All SB lanes closed due to tractor-trailer crash. Right shoulder getting by at times. Responders still arriving. Pls use alternate route.”

Meanwhile, with the implementation of storm weather, VDOT issued a travel advisory for the Fredericksburg area.

VDOT: “Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews will mobilize in emergency response Tuesday morning in the Fredericksburg area, Northern Neck, and Middle Peninsula to respond to potential travel hazards on state-maintained roads from forecasted heavy rain and high winds.

Between 2-3 inches of rain is forecast to fall between Tuesday morning and late Tuesday evening. High winds are also anticipated, with potential wind gusts between 40-45 mph along the I-95 corridor and between 50-55 mph in coastal areas on the eastern end of the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula.

High winds may lead to downed trees, utility lines, and other debris, especially in areas where soil is already saturated from recent storms. Travelers may encounter areas of ponding and standing water, with some roads partially or fully blocked by flooding.”

The storm will be with us all day and into the evening. You can see our latest forecast, sponsored by Waters End Brewery.

Prince William police report the first murder in the county of 2024.

On Saturday, January 6 at 5:04 p.m., officers responded to investigate a shooting that reportedly occurred in the area of Possum Point Road and Leonard Street in Dumfries earlier that day.

Officers were initially called to an area hospital where a 24-year-old Desire Alexandria Buggs, 24, of Woodbridge was suffering from a gunshot wound and later died. The preliminary investigation revealed her husband, later identified as the accused, brought the victim to the hospital after the shooting occurred and provided detectives with an account of what led up to the shooting, police said.

While investigating, additional information and the weapon believed to be used during the shooting were turned over to police. Further investigation revealed the accused was involved in the incident. Following the investigation, the accused, identified as Daniel Okoe Lawson, 24, of 14306 Jeffries Road, Apt #602, in Woodbridge, was arrested.

Lawson faces felony murder, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, and shooting into an occupied vehicle charges.

Detectives are continuing their investigation to determine what led up to the shooting and the shooting location. Anyone with information that could aid investigators in this investigation are asked to contact police.

Charged with felony murder, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, and shooting into an occupied vehicle

There were 22 murders in Prince William County in 2023, a tie with a 10-year high recorded in 2016.

When Michael Smith dug into the box of chicken he had bought at Popeye’s Chicken on Route 234 in Dumfries, he found a fried piece of “something” and felt it required a closer look before he bit into it.

He examined it and said he was shocked to see that it was what he thought was a chicken head. Not a juicy drumstick, succulent thigh, or even a breast packed with white meat like many other Popeye’s chicken eaters have experienced. No, this looked like a chicken head, beak and all.
So he did what everyone else does today – whipped out his cell phone, took a picture, and posted it to social media.

“I sent it to their general manager so they could see what’s going on; she never got back to me,” he said. This didn’t sit well with him.

It all started on Tuesday, December 19, when Smith stopped by the Popeyes Restaurant with his son to get something to eat. He had been to the drive-through window at this store, but it was the first time he got out of the car and went inside.

Once his order came, Smith looked at one piece and felt he could see the beak and the rest of it was shaped like a head, so he became alarmed. He got a second opinion on the picture and then sent it to the manager.

Not so fast, said “Thi,” the manager at that Popeye’s store in Dumfries. She looked at the picture of a fried glob of batter and saw that the head Michael pointed out was just “a piece of bone that looks like a chicken head,” she said. “We know that it was not a chicken head,” she added, but just in case, she took it further in the process. “We forwarded it to our HR,” she said.

It’s not a done deal for Smith, though. He called the health department and consulted an attorney.
A chicken head discovery at the Popeye’s chain is not new. In September 2023, another apparent chicken head was found in another Popeye’s meal, and it turned out that the image used to back up the claim was a 2021 image.

“A Popeyes spokesperson told USA Today it has since been recirculated and mistakenly attributed to Popeyes,” said a post on the USA Today site under “Fact Check.” In 2019, a chicken head was found in a Popeye’s dish in Livingston, Texas, and another “chicken head” was found in a box of chicken in Williamsport, Penn., but this was at a pizza restaurant, and it turned out to be a real chicken head—lots of question marks on that one.

Mike Salmon is a freelance reporter for Potomac Local News.

 

 

Prince William police doubled the reward for the man suspected of shooting and killing a Fredericksburg man.

The victim is Quatrail Raynard Smalls, 26, of Big Stone Gap, Va, which is about 400 miles from where the shooting occurred in Triangle. He was shot in the 3700 block of Wharf Ln. in Triangle.

Police said the suspect is 27-year-old Tyus James Terrell of Fredericksburg. Police will offer $10,000 for information that leads to his arrest.

Terrell is black, 5 feet, 11 inches tall, 200 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes, and a tattoo on his chest. He’s charged with murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Police said the shooting was not random.

Here’s the police report:

Murder Investigation *REWARD INCREASED – The Prince Wiliam County Police Department has increased the reward offered for information on the whereabouts of the suspect sought in connection to shooting death of a 26-year-old man following an altercation that occurred in the 3700 block of Wharf Ln. in Triangle (22172) on November 14. During the investigation, the suspect involved in the shooting was identified as Tyus James TERRELL. Detectives obtained arrest warrants for the suspect and an initial reward amount was offered for information leading to his arrest and conviction. Further attempts and leads in locating the suspect have been unsuccessful. The police department is now offering an increased reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of this suspect. The investigation continues.

Wanted: [Photo from January 2023]

Tyus James TERRELL, 27, of the 100 block of Mansfield St. in Fredericksburg

Described as a black male, approximately 5’11”, 200lbs., with black hair, brown eyes, and a tattoo on his chest

Wanted for murder, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon