A 15-year-old South Carolina boy is facing felony murder, burglary and other charges in connection with the fatal shooting last week of a 17-year-old at the Misty Ridge apartment complex in Woodbridge.Â
Officers arrived at the Misty Ridge apartments, located in the 15000 block of Lost Canyon Court, at 12:44 a.m. on Tuesday, June 18 and found a 17-year-old boy alone in a stairwell suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to an area hospital, where he later died. His name has not been released because he is a juvenile, according to police.Â
A police investigation into the incident determined the victim and the 15-year-old who was arrested Sunday were in the process of trying to rob an 18-year-old resident of money and marijuana when the fatal shooting occurred, according to Lt. Jonathan Perok, a Prince William County Police Department spokesman.Â
The 18-year-old resident shot and killed the 17-year-old during the incident, Perok said in a news release.Â
The 18-year-old has not yet been charged and his name has not been released. The police investigation into his actions is continuing, Perok said in an email.Â
On the evening of the fatal shooting, the two teens allegedly arrived at the 18-year-old's apartment and attempted to get him to open the door. After receiving no answer, the 17-year-old allegedly attempted to force entry into the apartment by breaking a window into a room where the 18-year-old was sleeping, Perok said.Â
As the 17-year-old entered the apartment, the 18-year-old allegedly fired his handgun, fatally shooting him, Perok said.Â
The 15-year-old, who was armed during the incident, fled the area before police arrived. At some point, he allegedly fired shots toward the apartment complex, Perok said.Â
It’s not yet clear whether the 17-year-old was also armed, Perok said.Â
The 15-year-old, whose name is not being released because he is a juvenile, was charged Sunday, June 23 with felony homicide, which is second-degree murder in Virginia. Police confiscated two handguns from the 15-year-old when he was arrested in Fredericksburg, Perok said.Â
It’s not yet clear whether either of the guns were involved in the incident, Perok said.Â
A person can be charged with felony homicide if someone dies in connection with another felonious act whether or not the death was intentional, according to state law. The charge is punishable by up to 40 years in prison.Â
The 15-year-old and the 17-year-old who died were visiting Woodbridge from South Carolina and had prior knowledge of the apartment complex and the 18-year-old resident, Perok said.Â
The 15-year-old was being held Sunday night in the Prince William County Juvenile Detention Center, Perok said.Â
Prince William County police were assisted in their investigation by the Virginia State Police, Fredericksburg police and South Carolina law enforcement officials in Gaffney, Spartanburg and Cherokee County, Perok said.Â
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