Handgun Discharges After Man Reneges On Deal To Buy Shoes: Police

WOODBRIDGE, VA — A 17-year-old male was struck with a handgun in Woodbridge Thursday night after he refused to hand over a pair of shoes to a person who had reneged on an agreement to purchase them. As the suspect was assaulting the 17-year-old, his gun went off, allowing the victim to flee the area and report the incident to a police station.

The attempted robbery occurred in a Woodbridge parking lot in the 16600 block of Georgetown Road. The boy arranged to sell the pair of shoes to an unknown man through various mobile communications. The boy, who was accompanied by a friend, agreed to meet the buyer at the Georgetown Road parking lot.

According to the Prince William County Police Department, while trying to conduct the sale, a burgundy vehicle pulled up and several unknown individuals surrounded the 17-year-old. After the assault and the discharge of the handgun, the suspects fled the scene without the shoes. The victim reported minor injuries.

The person who assaulted the 17-year-old is described as a black male wearing a blue bandana with a black sweatshirt, jeans and shoes. Prince William County police are asking people with any information about the Dec. 5 attempted armed robbery to contact the police tipline at 703-792-7000 or submit a webtip to www.pwcgov.org/policetip.