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Fourth suspect arrested in Manassas Mall shooting, fifth on the run

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Eric Ronaldo Benitez, 22, of 7600 Croce Court in Manassas, was arrested Wednesday and charged with two counts of willful assault, willful discharge of a firearm in a public place and use of a firearm in the commission of a crime, Prince William County Police Lt. Jonathan Perok said in a news release.

This article is republished with permission from WTOP news partner InsideNoVa.com. Sign up for InsideNoVa.com’s free email subscription today.


Prince William County Police have arrested three men in connection with a shooting at the Manassas Mall on July 10, 2024. Officers hope to identify additional suspects involved in the incident. The face of a woman is blurred, who police determined was not involved in the shooting. (Courtesy of Prince William County Police)

A fourth man was arrested in connection with Tuesday’s shooting at the Manassas Mall, and police have issued arrest warrants for a fifth suspect who was still at large Friday afternoon.

Eric Ronaldo Benitez, 22, of 7600 Croce Court in Manassas, was arrested Wednesday and charged with two counts of willful assault, willful discharge of a firearm in a public place and use of a firearm in the commission of a crime, Prince William County Police Lt. Jonathan Perok said in a news release.

Investigators are searching for 18-year-old Tayvion Omari Thornton of 1400 Cove Drive in Woodbridge, who is wanted on charges of second-degree intentional assault, concealed weapon possession, second-degree intentional discharge of a firearm in a public place and use of a firearm in the commission of a crime, Perok said. Attempts to locate him have been unsuccessful.

Three other men were arrested, including one of the two injured, shortly after the shooting, which occurred in the parking lot around 2 p.m.

According to police, two groups met at the 8300 Sudley Road shopping center near the food court and a physical altercation ensued.

“During the encounter, both groups brandished multiple firearms before the altercation spilled into the parking lot,” Prince William County Police Lt. Jonathan Perok said in a news release.

The two groups met in the parking lot and then dispersed. No shots were fired in the mall itself, Perok said, but the fight and the shots in the parking lot caused “initial panic.”

One of the shooting victims, a 23-year-old Manassas resident, was driven “by other acquaintances” to a nearby hospital, where police were notified, Perok said.

An innocent bystander, a 51-year-old man, was found at the scene and treated at a nearby hospital for an upper body injury. Both men are expected to survive.

When a police dog searched the area, officers seized several firearms, Perok said. Two men were arrested nearby following a traffic stop.

After the arrest, detectives charged two 18-year-olds – Daevon Russell of 9300 Taney Road in Manassas and Joshuah Mina Hernandez of 8300 Shady Grove Circle in Manassas – with two counts of willful assault, shooting at an inhabited structure, willful discharge of a firearm in a public place, carrying a firearm in a public place and use of a firearm in the commission of a crime, Perok said.

According to court records, Russell was at large in Prince William County awaiting trial on charges from last December, including reckless handling of a firearm causing serious bodily harm.

The 23-year-old man who was shot, identified as Skyler James Agley of 7600 Gales Court in Manassas, was treated for his injuries. He is charged with willful assault, shooting at an inhabited structure, willful discharge of a firearm in a public place and use of a firearm in the commission of a crime, Perok said.

“Investigators currently believe the main suspects in the shooting have been identified and charged,” Perok said.

Anyone who witnessed the altercation or has information on Tayvion Thornton’s whereabouts is asked to contact police at 703-792-6500. The investigation is ongoing.

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