The investigation revealed the driver of a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze was traveling westbound on Dale Blvd. approaching Cherrydale Dr. at a high rate of speed when the driver crossed over the median into the eastbound lanes and struck a guardrail. The vehicle continued through the intersection before driving down into a barrier on Cranmer Mews.
The vehicle struck a tree, flipped over, and rested upside down. The driver of the car and the only occupant of the Chevrolet was pronounced deceased at the scene. Speed and impairment appear to be factors in the crash.
“We do not have toxicology back yet so we can’t say specifically what the impairment was,” a police spokeswoman told us.
Investigators with the Crash Investigation Unit are asking anyone who may have witnessed this crash to contact police. The investigation continues.
The deceased driver of the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze was identified as Lavone Rasheed RICHARDSON-CROSBY, 34, of no fixed address.
Prince William Chamber of Commerce press release: The Prince William Chamber of Commerce is proud to be hosting the 38th annual Valor Awards on May 21st at the Hylton Preforming Arts Center. These awards highlight the dedication of these brave individuals and the work they do for the community. Award-winning NBC4 anchor Juliana Valencia emcees the Valor Awards for the third year.
The Valor Awards is a special event that honors first responders that serve the local community and go above and beyond to ensure the safety of others. “BFPE International is proud to support the 2024 Prince William Valor Awards,” said Michelle Thompson, Director of Marketing at BFPE International. “We are in awe of each Valor Award recipient; their dedication and selfless act of heroism is inspiring.”
Award recipients have been nominated by their respective chiefs and selected by a committee of colleagues and members of the business community. This year’s awards will recognize members of the first responder community in the City of Manassas, City of Manassas Park and in Prince William County.
This event is free, and it is open to all in the community. Attendees can expect to hear the inspiring stories of award recipients as they are recognized for their heroic actions. For more information about the event, visit the Chamber’s website at: https://bit.ly/4avWxRh or on their Facebook page at: https://bit.ly/43RlVik.
Prince William police: On April 9, 2024, detectives concluded an investigation into the solicitation of a minor that was reported to have occurred in the Woodbridge area of Prince William County in February 2023.
The investigation revealed during the above timeframe, the victim, who was under the age of 18 at the time of the offenses, received sexually explicit messages from an acquaintance, identified as the accused, via text messages.
Following the investigation, detectives obtained arrest warrants for the accused, identified as Lamar Bobby HOPKINS.
On March 25, the accused was served while incarcerated in Prince George’s County on an unrelated matter. The accused was extradited to Prince William County on April 9.
Arrested on April 9: Lamar Bobby HOPKINS, 47, of 2214 Alice Avenue., Apartment. 103 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Charged with 4 counts of use of communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children. Court Date: Pending | Bond: Held WITHOUT Bond.
Prince William police: On April 4, detectives arrested in connection to an unconscious man who had been dropped off at an area hospital on March 8 at approximately 4:30 p.m.
The initial investigation revealed the victim, a 46-year-old man, had sustained significant injuries by unknown means while at a property located in the 4200 block of James Maddison Highway in Haymarket on
March 8.
During the ongoing investigation, detectives learned the victim had been
assaulted by multiple male acquaintances, including the accused.
At one point during the encounter, the accused struck the victim in the head with a baseball bat, which rendered him unconscious. The victim was then dropped off at the hospital, where the police were contacted.
Multiple search warrants were served with the assistance of local and federal partners, resulting in firearms and scheduled I/II narcotics being seized.
On April 4, following the investigation, the accused, identified as Juan Manuel MATA BENAVIDES, was arrested. The investigation continues as detectives continue to identify the other individuals involved in the incident.
Arrested on April 4: Juan Manuel MATA BENAVIDES, 28, of 11251 Lady Jane Loop. Apartment 103 in Manassas. Charged with aggravated malicious wounding, malicious wounding by mob, malicious wounding, assault by mob, assault & battery, abduction, unauthorized possession of a firearm, and possession of schedule I/II drugs. Court Date: Pending | Bond: Held WITHOUT Bond.
Two women were found dead in an apartment near Manassas.
The incident occurred on Porters Ridge Lane, in the Portsmouth neighborhood, behind Global Food, near Manassas.
Police discovered the bodies inside an apartment at 5:12 a.m. Both victims succumbed to gunshot wounds, sparking an investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths, according to initial information from county police.
Authorities swiftly moved forward with the case, resulting in an arrest made in Shenandoah County. Reports indicate that the suspect, in an attempt to flee the crime scene, resorted to carjacking a passerby’s car. However, their flight was short-lived as their vehicle malfunctioned while driving through Shenandoah County.
Law enforcement officials have emphasized that the incident does not appear to be random, indicating that there may be underlying motives behind the shootings.
Nine people have been shot and killed in Prince William County so far this year.
More as we have it.
Prince William County Commonwealth Attorney Amy Ashworth ruled a fatal police shooting at a union worker training center justified.
An independent criminal investigation into the shooting and the moments that led up to shots fired on Feb. 13, 2024, an alteration began in a classroom inside the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). In this apprenticeship training center, several students had assembled for a class.
In a seemingly unprovoked attack, the suspect, Philip Austin Brant, 26, of Woodbridge, approached one victim, identified as a 23-year-old Fairfax man, and pulled a knife from a backpack before repeatedly stabbing the victim. The other students present inside the room dispersed as the victim attempted to separate from Brant, who continued the attack.
At one point, Brant exited the classroom where he encountered and repeatedly stabbed a second victim, 23-year-old Elijah Islam Safadi of Manassas, in a hallway. As officers arrived, Brant moved to the front entrance lobby of the building, where he eventually encountered officers who shot him, according to details released in a March 28, 2024, police report.
The initial stabbing victim collapsed inside the classroom where the altercation began, while Safadi exited the building before collapsing in the parking lot. Emergency crews rushed both to area hospitals with multiple stab wounds, where Safadi died from his injuries. The surviving victim suffered critical injuries.
The investigation was conducted by the regional Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT), which is comprised of investigators from multiple law enforcement agencies in Northern Virginia. No members of the Prince William County Police Department were involved in the investigation led by CIRT.
Police said they knew the man who shot and killed a man outside a Dumfries club.
On March 24, 2024, Prince William police detectives identified the suspect sought in connection to the fatal shooting of Carvell Jarmain Williams, 38, of Warrenton, outside Club Tempo located at 17650 Possum Point Road in Dumfries on March 23.
While investigating the incident, detectives identified the suspect and obtained arrest warrants. Preliminarily, the investigation revealed the two parties were known to one another and that the accused and victim were possibly involved in an altercation in the parking lot when the victim was fatally shot, police said.
Police have located the suspect. Detectives continue to actively investigate the incident and ask anyone with information regarding this case or the whereabouts of the accused to contact police.
The suspect is Jonathan Montile Middleton, 37, of the 100 block of Eustace Road in Stafford, police said.
He’s described as black, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 240 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He’s wanted for murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Prince William County police at 703-792-6500 or submit a tip online at pwcva.gov/policetip.
Police found the body of a woman in a trash truck in Lake Ridge after she didn’t pick up her child from daycare.
On Thursday, March 21, at 8:49 p.m., officers responded to a residence located in the 12200 block of Stevenson Court in Lake Ridge to investigate a missing person.
The investigation revealed family members were concerned over the welfare of the victim, Taty’ana Zakiyyah Cooks, 30, who had not picked up her child from daycare.
During the investigation, detectives learned the victim’s vehicle was being driven by an acquaintance of the victim, later identified as the accused, in Newport News and that the victim’s belongings were still inside her Lake Ridge home.
On March 22, detectives were looking for the missing woman and stopped at a trash truck. Inside, they found the woman’s body.
Additional evidence was discovered which indicated the accused was involved in the victim’s death.
Following the investigation, detectives obtained a murder warrant for the accused, identified as Brendon Devon White, 28, who was located and arrested by Newport News and charged with murder. He’s now in jail.
