Police Say Teen Plotted With Gang To Kill Father

Manassas police said they cannot say why a 16-year-old Osbourn High School student wanted to kill his father, only that they know he conspired with fellow gang members over the past month to do it.

Police announced the arrest of the teenager and eight other gang members at an afternoon news conference Friday. They were continuing to look for another suspect.

Police Chief John J. Skinner described the incident as isolated, saying it is the first incident in "a long time" involving criminal gang activity in the schools. "This is far from common and routine," he said.

The investigation began Tuesday when the teen and his father appeared in front of a school resource officer, saying the teenager was "jumped," or beaten into a gang, by six other Osbourn students at Main Street and Wood Drift Circle, police said. The teenager, who is not being identified because he is a juvenile, told the officer he joined the gang for protection after a rival gang broke into his house late February and stole two guns, police said.

Further investigation revealed that the teenager was a member of the gang that broke into his house and had conspired with that gang over the past month to commit the burglary, steal the guns and kill his father, police said.

Skinner said he is not sure when the killing was supposed to take place and could not discuss the motive. The teenager is thought to have joined the second gang after becoming fearful of the first. Authorities were not releasing the names of either gang as a matter of policy.

Police charged the teenager and another 16-year-old with conspiracy to commit murder. A 17-year-old was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit burglary, and further charges are pending, police said.

Police are still looking for a man who they say may have the guns. Robert L. Williams, 24, of the 9000 block of McClellen Common in Manassas faces charges of burglary, grand larceny, conspiracy to commit a felony, abduction, assault and battery, and destruction of property. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 703-257-8000 or the 24-hour confidential tip line at 703-330-0330.

In connection with the gang initiation, police arrested six members of another gang. They include five juveniles, ages 14 to 17, and Dwaynne A. Smith, 18, of the 9700 block of Beech Place in Manassas.

All were charged with gang participation, assault by mob, gang activity in a school zone and recruitment of a juvenile for a criminal street gang.