Women Found Dead In Manassas Double Homicide, Suspect Caught After Carjacking

MANASSAS, VA — Two women were found dead in a double homicide in the Manassas area of Prince William County Tuesday morning, according to police. Police have arrested a suspect, who they say was also involved in a carjacking.

Prince William County Police had responded around 5:12 a.m. Tuesday to the Westgate Apartments and Townhomes in the 8100 block of Porter Ridge Lane for a welfare check. Two adult women were found inside the residence with upper body gunshot wounds. Both women were pronounced dead at the scene.

The victims were identified as Leann Renee Harris, 34, and Asia Payne, 22, of Manassas.

Police connected the suspect, Edward James Jackson Bland, 26, of Manassas, to a carjacking early Tuesday morning. Around 12:45 a.m., police had received reports of a man with a gun and a carjacking at gunpoint in the 8100 block of Portwood Turn in Manassas. The carjacking victim was not injured.

Officers could not immediately find the suspect and put out a lookout for the stolen vehicle. Hours later, police were notified by Shenandoah County law enforcement that they detained a suspect whose vehicle became inoperable in the area of Interstates 66 and 81. The vehicle was confirmed as the one stolen from Prince William County.

Police say the suspect and two homicide victims were acquainted. Detectives obtained arrest warrants for Jackson Bland, who remains in custody in Shenandoah County. He is charged with two counts of murder, one count of carjacking and three counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

The investigation into what led to the shooting continues. Anyone with information can contact Prince William County police at 703-792-6500 or submit a tip pwcva.gov/policetip.