Update on Manassas City Police involved in shooting at county park

UPDATE on Officer Involved Shooting [Manassas City Police] – On May 19 at 12:40AM, the Prince William County Public Safety Communications Center (PSCC) received a 9-1-1 call from someone reporting a shooting involving a vehicle which was allegedly occurring in the area of Grant Ave in the City of Manassas, according to a report from Sgt. Jonathan Perok, spokesman from Prince William County Police Department.

Perok went on to say that when PSCC learned the incident was occurring in Manassas City, the call was transferred to their dispatch for police response. The caller provided a description of the vehicle which was located by Manassas City police officers who then attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle failed to stop and a pursuit was initiated which entered Prince William County.

Prince William County police were notified of the pursuit at approximately 1:09AM, according to Sgt. Perok. During the pursuit, two Manassas City police cruisers were struck by the suspect vehicle. The pursuit continued to George Hellwig Memorial Park located at 14420 Bristow Rd in Manassas (20112) where the driver struck a tree and light post. The driver eventually stopped the vehicle in a parking lot within the park and exited, Perok said.

During a confrontation with Manassas City officers, shots were fired by police and the suspect was struck. Prince William County officers arrived on scene shortly after the shooting. Officers from both agencies rendered aid to the suspect until Fire and Rescue personnel arrived, Perok said.

The suspect, identified as an 18-year-old man, was flown to an area hospital with serious injuries and is expected to survive. A firearm was recovered at the scene and was determined to a replica BB-gun.

The county police department spokesman also said that a 15-year-old female juvenile was inside the vehicle at the time of the incident and was unharmed. The juvenile was later determined to be a runaway from the Woodbridge area and was reunited with her family.

No officers were injured during this incident. Prince William County Police were not involved in the initial pursuit or the shooting.

While reviewing the initial 9-1-1 call made to Prince William County PSCC, detectives learned that the suspect shot by police was the individual who placed that call and provided a description of his own vehicle. No actual shooting was determined to have taken place in Manassas City.

Due to the location of the shooting, Prince William County Police are investigating the criminal aspect of this shooting. Manassas City Police Internal Affairs are handling the administrative aspect of the incident. At this point in the investigation, no charges have been filed, Perok stated.

More information will be released when available, according to police.