Investigate details in PWC Police shooting case at apprentice training center in Manassas

UPDATE #2

Officer-Involved Shooting Investigation *INVESTIGATIVE DETAILS – As the investigation into the officer-involved shooting that occurred at an apprenticeship training center located at 7016 Infantry Ridge Rd in Manassas (20109) on February 13 progresses, preliminary details are being released to keep our community informed of the events prior and up to the officer’s arrival on scene.

At approximately 3:23PM, multiple 911 calls were received as officers were dispatched to the location for an active violence incident of a stabbing-in-progress. Initial information received indicated two victims, both adult men, had been stabbed and that the suspect was armed with a knife.

Within minutes, the first responding officers arrived on scene and approached the building where they encountered the presumed suspect at the entrance door. Officers instantly engaged the suspect who was armed with a knife. As the officers issued commands to the suspect to drop the knife, the suspect moved towards the officers. Two uniformed police officers opened fire from their department-issued handguns, striking the suspect.

As officers were assessing the suspect’s condition, additional officers searched the building for victims. Preliminary information indicates that the initial stabbing occurred in a classroom within the center where the suspect and at least one of the victims were present along with several other students.

For reasons still under investigation, the suspect approached the victim, pulled a knife from a backpack, and began stabbing the victim multiple times. Those present inside the room dispersed as the suspect continued his assault on the victim. At one point, the suspect exited the classroom where he encountered and stabbed a second victim in another classroom inside the building.

The initial stabbing victim collapsed inside the classroom where the altercation began, and the second victim exited the building and collapsed in the parking lot. Both victims were transported to area hospitals where one of the men died from his injuries. The surviving victim remains hospitalized in critical condition.

The suspect was pronounced dead on scene.

The investigation into the incident continues to be led by the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT). Additional details will be released as more information becomes available.

Both officers involved in the shooting were placed on routine paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has further information, is asked to contact police. The investigation continues.
Identified:
The suspect was identified as Philip Austin BRANT, 26 of Woodbridge
The deceased victim in the stabbing was identified as Elijah Islam SAFADI, 23, of Manassas
The surviving victim in the stabbing was identified as a 23-year-old man of Fairfax

Officers Involved:
The officers involved had 5 years and 1.5 years of service, both assigned to uniformed patrol operations

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Prince William County Police Department tipline at 703.792.7000 or submit a webtip to: pwcva.gov/policetip. Any tips received will be relayed to CIRT investigators.