Homicide: Arrest Made In Fatal Shooting Of Reston Man

RESTON, VA — Fairfax County Police announced the arrest Sunday of a Newport News man in connection with the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Samuel Onyeuka of Reston.

Officers from the Reston District Station responded around 2 p.m., on Wednesday for the report of gunshots and a person lying on the ground in the 2300 block of Branleigh Park Court. Officers found Onyeuka suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body. Despite medical intervention, Onyeuka was pronounced dead on the scene.

"Our investigation began swiftly thereafter and detectives began combing the area for evidence, and ultimately were able to trace the path of our victim and the offender to a shopping center in the area," Maj. Ed O'Carroll, commander of FCPD's Major Crimes Bureau, said, during a Sunday morning news conference.

Through a combination of financial records and video surveillance at a nearby restaurant and throughout the neighborhood, detectives were able to obtain a tentative identification of the suspect and a description of the getaway vehicle. Police released the description of the vehicle on Wednesday, a silver SUV, possibly a Nissan Rogue or similar vehicle.

"That led us to the Newport News area in the southern part of Virginia," O'Carroll said. "At that very moment, our detectives were contacting the Newport News Police Department to alert them as to where our investigative lead had taken us and they were very gracious to support us in our investigation."

Newport News Police eventually located the vehicle and took 20-year-old Jalenn Maurtiece Keene into custody without incident on Friday. They also located a 9mm gun. Ballistic testing is underway to ascertain if it is the murder weapon, according to O'Carroll.

"It was through a tremendous amount of police work and vigorous followup that we were able to identify 20-year-old Jalenn Keene as the alleged offender in this senseless murder," O'Carroll said.

Keene is currently in custody of Newport News Police. Once he is transported to Fairfax County, he faces charges of second degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Fairfax County detectives are working to determine the circumstances that led up to the shooting, confirming that both Keene and Onyeuka attended South Lakes High School.

"The complexity of how well they know each other is still under investigation," O'Carroll said. "We have a lot of questions, a lot of work to be done."

During the news conference, Sally Feyez, director of FCPD's Victim Services Division, read the following statement from Onyeuka's family:

"Words are insufficient to describe the deep concern and grief our family is having about the unjust murder of our dear Sam. Our beloved, kind, gentle son, brother, nephew, uncle, friend, neighbor, and member of our community. We will continue to celebrate his life. While he has gone from us too soon, we believe he is resting in peace for all eternity where no harm will ever be done to him again. Our family does asks anyone with information to please reach out to the detectives so that we can bring our family some justice."

This is the first homicide in the Fairfax County in 2021.

Police ask anyone with information about this case to contact the Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 2. Anonymous tips may be submitted via Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), by text – Type "FCCS" plus tip to 847411, and online.

Also see ...

Reston Homicide Victim Identified By Fairfax County Police