Teen Arrested in Attempted Robbery-Turned-Shooting

A 17-year-old man is in custody following a robbery-turned-shooting in the Mantua area of Fairfax on Wednesday night.

According to a statement, officers with the Fairfax County Police received a report around 9 p.m. of several shots fired in the 9300 block of Tovito Drive, a neighborhood inbetween Fairfax City and the Vienna/Merrifield area.

FCPD spokesperson Don Gotthardt told Patch a group of four individuals had approached a 17-year-old victim on the street, while a fifth individual waited in a car down the street.

The victim and the suspects knew one another, Gotthardt said.

The four suspects demanded the victim's cell phone, according to police. The victim complied and the suspects fled.

The suspects then reportedly confronted another 17-year-old victim, also known to them. 

Gotthardt said it is not clear if the group of suspects also tried to rob this second victim, but that some sort of altercation took place. The 17-year-old victim pulled out a handgun and fired on the group of suspects, hitting one of them.

All five suspects then reportedly fled the scene.

Some time later, the 18-year-old man from the group of suspects hit by the second victim's gunfire checked in to Inova Fairfax Hospital seeking treatment for his injuries. Police were notified.

Following an investigation, officers arrested the 17-year-old who had fired the handgun. He was transported to the Fairfax County Juvenile Detention Center and charged with malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

An investigation continues into the robbery, police said.

Several Patch readers reported a strong police presence in the Mantua area of Fairfax Wednesday night.

"Does anyone know what's going on in Mantua tonight? Lots of police action on Tovito," Fairfax City Patch Facebook fan Stacie Haber Bicknell posted.

"@ViennaPatch do you know what's going on in Mantua? Keep hearing that a ton of cops are around asking residents to stay inside," Vienna Patch follower BeingtheFunMama asked.

"I'm just down the street. Cops still here hours after arriving," Natalia Rokowski said on our Facebook page.

Did you see all the police activity about this incident? Tell us what you saw in the comments.