MANASSAS, VA — A 16-year-old girl was killed and a 21-year-old man was seriously hurt when gunfire broke out during a crowded First Friday gathering in Old Town Manassas on Sept. 4, police said.
Manassas Police Chief Doug Keen said the shooting happened near the railroad tracks by Foster’s Grille and the Manassas train depot, close to the intersection of Battle and Center streets. Authorities later described the episode as an active shooter incident.
Police said the man was taken to a Fairfax County hospital and is expected to survive. Investigators have not released a suspect description or said what led to the shooting.
How police say the shooting unfolded near Battle and Center streets
Police first alerted the public Friday night that they were investigating a shooting in Old Town and told people to stay away from the area. At that point, officials had not confirmed whether anyone had been injured.
Keen later said the violence erupted as about 10,000 people were attending First Friday. The event, a regular draw in downtown Manassas, quickly shifted from a community gathering to a crime scene as officers tried to secure the area.
Because the shooting happened in a dense crowd, investigators are treating witness accounts and video as especially important. Police say they know someone saw what happened, but they have not yet identified the shooters.
Victims identified only by age as hospital care continues
Authorities have identified the victims only by age. The teenage girl was pronounced dead after the shooting, while the 21-year-old man was rushed to a hospital with serious injuries.
Keen said the man was taken to a Fairfax County hospital and is expected to recover from his injuries. Police have not released the names of either victim.
No other injuries were announced, and officials have not said whether the girl and the man were together when the shooting began. The limited information reflects how early the case remains as detectives continue interviewing witnesses and reviewing evidence.
Police ask attendees to review phone photos and videos
Investigators are asking anyone who was at First Friday, especially people near the railroad tracks, Foster’s Grille or the train depot, to look through cellphone photos and videos for anything connected to the shooting.
Keen also urged parents whose children attended the event to talk with them about what they may have seen or heard. Police said the crowd size makes bystander footage potentially useful for identifying who fired the shots.
Detective Tim Urie has been assigned to the case. Anyone with information is being asked to call police at 703-257-8043.
No suspect description or motive has been released yet
Police have not announced a description of any suspect or suspects, and they have not said what caused the shooting. Investigators also have not said whether more than one person opened fire.
Keen said officers are working to identify the people involved and suggested that members of the public may hold critical information. Police said they plan to post a QR code on the department’s website and social media pages so witnesses can upload photos and video directly.
That digital submission option is meant to make it easier for eventgoers to share footage quickly while the investigation continues. Officials have not said when they expect to release additional details.
First Friday moves forward under the shadow of the investigation
The shooting happened during one of Old Town Manassas’ largest regular events, when the downtown area was packed with visitors. The size of the crowd is one reason police are focusing on fast collection of videos and witness statements.
For now, the case remains active and unresolved. Police say they are still trying to reconstruct what happened near the tracks and determine who was responsible for the gunfire that killed a teenager and critically injured a young man.
Officials have not said whether any arrests have been made. The investigation remains ongoing.
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