Five Arrested in Reston Gang Fight

Fairfax County Police have made five arrests in relation to a gang-related brawl in Reston in December.

The people arrested - including three juveniles who attend South Lakes High School - were all charged with two counts of assault by mob and two counts of participating in gang activity, said Fairfax County Police Public Information Officer Lucy Caldwell.

"There were a series of altercations where people were upset and argued over the course of time in November and December," said Caldwell. "Those incidents resulted in a search warrant, which led to these charges."

Those charged: Fidel Fernandez, 19, of Greywing Square in Reston; Leoyar Rios Hernandez, 18, of Coquina Drive in Reston; a 16 year old boy and two 17 year old boys (Fairfax County Police do not release the names of minors).

According to search warrants, on Dec. 2, police responded to the 11900 block of Winterthur Lane in Reston in regards to a large fight. Police learned that earlier in the day, the two South Lakes students exchanged words, with one of them telling the other "I'm Mara Salvatrucha - don't mess with me," and threatening to knock his teeth out.

Mara Salvatrucha (or MS-13) is an established gang.

The two were separated by school staff before the conflict could become physical. One of the teens got on the other teen's bus and followed him to Winterthur Apartments. The other suspects arrived there, a larger fight ensued and police were called to the scene.

The suspects were arrested that day.

Lt. Ron Haugsdahl, head of the FCPD gang task force unit, says clamping down on smaller gang-related incidents like this are crucial in preventing larger gang activity in the area.

"There are a core group of MS guys who get into dispute with other guys in the area," he said. "Historically, we have seen that if we don't address these incidents, it goes back and forth, and then it escalates. The next thing you know, someone is stabbed, and then there is a shooting.

"You can go back to case after case of things starting - maybe with a look - at school that escalate into something else," he said. He added that most gang activity takes place outside of school.