One family member and the motorist were both killed.
On Wednesday, January 6, Asa Ellington Mitchell opened fire at his family, killing his 55-year-old father, Eric Mitchell, before getting away from the house. The shocking incident occurred shortly before 6 p.m. at 10000 block of Ellis Road in Manassas, Northern Virginia. The 21-year-old man also wounded his grandmother, 76; his mother, 56; and his brother, 16.
According to Prince William and Fauquier County Police (PWC) reports, Asa fled his home in a Toyota Camry, crashed 35 miles away in Delaplane in Fauquier County, and fatally wounded a motorist before taking his own life.
PWC police reported that all three wounded family members of Asa were admitted to the hospital and are expected to recover.
*UPDATE: Ref #Manassas murder investigation; #PWCPD and @FauquierSheriff continue to investigate the overnight shooting that began at a home on Ellis Dr where 4 family members were shot. The suspect crashed in Delaplane before shooting another man & apparently committing suicide. https://t.co/lQLoVPR5MR pic.twitter.com/imyVzljVVg
— Prince William County Police (@PWCPolice) January 7, 2021
According to police, a crash was reported in the 8700 block of Maidstone Road around 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday. The deputies found a fatally wounded driver along with two vehicles at the crash site. The identity of the deceased motorist is not yet disclosed.
Police found Asa a few feet away from his empty vehicle. He was conscious but suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, as disclosed by Sgt. Steve Lewis, spokesman for the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office.
“The investigation continues as Prince William County detectives work to determine what lead up to the initial shooting at the home on Ellis Dr. in Manassas ... More information will be released when available,” said the police in a statement.
Virginia State Police and the Prince William County Police Department are actively investigating this incident. The Fauquier County Police, who found the deceased motorist and Asa, is also involved in the investigation.
**This is an ongoing investigation and will be updated.
