Man Arrested For July Rape In Woodbridge: Police

WOODBRIDGE, VA—Following an exhaustive investigation, a man was arrested Wednesday for raping an 18-year-old woman July 25 outside an apartment building in the 12200 block of Stevenson Court in Woodbridge, according to Prince William County Police.

Damion Jalil Peterson, 26, was charged with one count of rape, one count of abduction with intent to defile, one count of forcible sodomy, three counts of use of a firearm in commission of a felony and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Earlier this month, police received forensic results of evidence collected during the investigation. That evidence, along with additional investigative analysis, connected Peterson to the rape. He already was in jail for two other unrelated incidents involving a shooting and drug distribution. He's being held without bond.

The woman told police that she returned to the apartment building around 6:05 a.m. on July 25 and was confronted by an unknown man standing in the enclosed stairwell with a gun. He attempted to sexually assault her, then forced her to the rear of the building and raped her. He then ordered her to walk into a nearby wooded area before fleeing on foot. She told a friend about the incident, and the friend contacted police.

In early August, police released an electronic composite image of the then-unknown man, and also released a relatively detailed sketch of his angel tattoo.

Photo: Prince William County Police