Shooting Terrifies Manassas Shoppers

As horrified shoppers at a popular Manassas strip mall ducked for cover yesterday, masked members of a Prince William County narcotics task force drew their guns and opened fire on an alleged drug dealer who authorities say threatened the lives of undercover officers while trying to escape in his SUV.

The suspect, Ervin E. Jenkins, 31, of Warrenton, was listed in stable condition at Inova Fairfax Hospital after police said he tried to run down a member of the task force with his Chevrolet Tahoe about 11:45 a.m.

When the gunfire ended, some Parkridge Center shoppers said they couldn't understand why police officers would fire their weapons in such a busy, public place where scores of people could have been hurt. It was a frightening scene that one witness said forced a woman to use her body to shield her 3-year-old granddaughter.

"She had to hit the ground right here in front of the store," said Amanda Hamilton of Manassas whose Ford Escape was hit by gunfire. "My first instinct was to run. I was right in front of the Old Navy. I saw the green vehicle being shot at."

Officers were acting on a tip from an informant that Jenkins was about to make a crack cocaine delivery at the strip mall near Sudley Road and Interstate 66, said 1st. Sgt. Dennis Mangan, a Prince William police spokesman. Although Jenkins did not fire a weapon, his vehicle was used as a deadly weapon, Mangan said.

"This is the last place where we would ever want to meet anybody," he said. "It would have been a secluded place, but it wasn't our choice."

At the time, police were not aware that Jenkins had "an extensive record for both violence and drugs" because his name was misspelled during a preliminary records check, police said.

When officers blocked Jenkins with their cars, he put his foot on the gas pedal, revved the older-model Tahoe in reverse and slammed into the cars, police said. He then accelerated forward and rammed police cars and three other vehicles out of his path, they said.

He continued to drive toward an officer who was on foot, police said. Fearing for his life, the officer opened fire, as did other members of the task force, police said. Police were trying to determine how many shots were fired.

Police did not say how many officers fired their weapons, but the officers will be on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of investigations of the incident. Jenkins faces charges including attempted malicious wounding of a police officer, they said.

Many shoppers said they thought the officers wearing ski masks were gang members.

Rosalind Colvin said she dropped to the floor in the Bed, Bath & Beyond store when the gunfire started.

"I was at the register," said Colvin, whose Infiniti suddenly became part of the crime scene. "They shut the doors immediately and told everybody to get down. They were quick. They locked the doors down fast."

It was a different story next door at Old Navy. As bullets whizzed by in the parking lot, customers continued to shop, said store manager Evelyn Crowhurst.

"I heard two shots first," Crowhurst said. "Then I saw the three guys wearing masks. They were shooting at someone. While this is happening, everyone is shopping. I told them to get down and go to the back."

Tyanne Delaney, who was in Old Navy when the gunfire erupted outside, said it was surreal to see customers continue to plow through racks looking for shorts and tops on sale for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

"I was like, 'Get down! Go to the back of the store!' " Delaney said.

Delaney said she was standing by a window when the shooting started. After learning that it was a police shooting, Delaney said she became upset.

"If it was all planned out, they need to do it in a place where it's less people," Delaney said. "This is a holiday weekend."