Brawl in Manassas Home Leads to Police Manhunt

Image: Prince William County Police Department

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Prince William County police are looking for a Manassas-area man who pulled a knife during a brawl Monday night, according to a police report.

Chris Leroy Downs Jr. (in photo above from January 2013), of the 11900 block of Hilltop Drive near Manassas, is wanted for one count of malicious wounding, one count of attempted malicious wounding and two counts of assault and battery, police said. Downs is 40 years old and described as a white male who is bald, 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 165 pounds with a medium build, blue eyes and a graying beard.

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At 10:20 p.m. Monday, police officers responded to a residence in the 11900 block of Hilltop Drive to investigate a reported assault. The victim, a 43-year-old Manassas woman, told police that she and Downs, a known acquaintance, were involved in a verbal argument that escalated.

During the encounter, Downs allegedly assaulted the victim and pushed her onto a nearby couch, police said. While on the couch, Downs began to shake the victim before biting one of her fingers.

Three other occupants of the home attempted to separate the two, police said. At that point, Downs pulled out a knife and attempted to cut one of the other occupants. No contact was made.

The other occupants eventually removed Downs from the home and police were contacted. The initial victim sustained a wound to her finger, police said, and other minor injuries were reported.

An officer with a police dog and a Fairfax County police helicopter searched for Downs, and police obtained warrants for his arrest.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Crime Solvers at (703) 670-3700 or 866-411-TIPS. You don’t have to give your name, just the information. You could earn up to a $1,000 cash reward.