Five Arrested In Gang-Related Assault In Sterling: Police

STERLING, VA — Five people are facing charges in what the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office is calling a gang-related assault that left two people with minor injuries. According to a LCSO release, the suspects and the victims knew each other and were members of rival gangs.

On Sept. 19, the two victims reported they were sitting in a vehicle in the 400 block of Williamsburg Road when several people approached them, pulled them out of the vehicle and assaulted them. The assault occurred around 6:45 p.m.

Arrested in connection with the assault were Christian Carias-Chavez, 20, of Sterling; Joana J. Recinos-Rivas, 18, of Sterling; Gustavo A. Velasquez-Soto, 20, of Sterling; and Angel A. Velasquez Orellana, 18, of Sterling. All four were charged with two counts of assault by mob and two counts of gang participation.

A fifth suspect, Carlos V. Lopez-Navarro, 19, of Sterling, was charged with two counts of assault by mob, two counts of gang participation, and providing false identification to law enforcement.

Members of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Enforcement Unit worked in coordination with the Northern Virginia Gang Task Force and the LCSO Special Operations Section to identify and locate the suspects.