Detectives charged suspect, Edward James Jackson Bland, Tuesday, with the murder of two women found at the Westgate Apartments and Townhomes on Porter Ridge Lane in Manassas, earlier that day.
“The investigation revealed police had responded to the area around 12:45 a.m. for reports of a man with a gun,” said police spokesperson Lt. Jonathan Perok. "At the same time, a 61-year-old man called the police to report he had been carjacked at gunpoint at the 8100 block of Portwood Turn in Manassas."
Officers arrived on the scene of the carjacking where the victim told officers that after parking, a man brandished a firearm at him and then took his vehicle. The victim was unharmed.
Officers could not locate the suspect or the stolen vehicle in the vicinity. They proceeded to enter information into a national database that alerts nearby jurisdictions.
Later that day, Shenandoah County, reported to Prince William Police that they had detained a man found with what they believe to be the stolen vehicle. The vehicle had become inoperable around I-66 and I-81, and he walked to a nearby convenience store. Authorities confirmed it was indeed the same vehicle.
Meanwhile, Prince William Police learned new information, prompting them to do a welfare check at the apartment on Porter Ridge Lane in Manassas.
When no one answered the door, police breached the entrance. Inside the apartment officers discovered two deceased women with gunshot wounds to the upper body. Police have since learned the incident was not random and the accused knew the victims.
Following the investigation, detectives obtained arrest warrants for the accused, identified as Edward James Jackson Bland, who remains in custody in Shenandoah County.
On April 2, Edward James Jackson Bland, 36, of 9809 Town Lane in Manassas was charged with 2 counts of murder, 1 count of carjacking, and 3 counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony . His court date is pending. He remains incarcerated.
The deceased victims have been identified as Leann Renee Harris, 34, and Asia Payne, 22, from the Manassas area.
Detectives are continuing to investigate the incident to determine what led up to the shooting; they would like to speak with anyone who has information to aid in the investigation.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Prince William County police at 703-792-6500 or submit a tip online at pwcva.gov/policetip.
This article is based on a press release from the Prince William County Police.
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