Middle Schoolers Charged With Robbery, Firearm Possession: Police

WOODBRIDGE, VA — Two middle school students in Woodbridge — 14-year-old and 13-year-old boys — were charged Wednesday with robbery and possession of a weapon on school grounds, according to the Prince William County Police Department.

Two other students at Rippon Middle School in Woodbridge — both 13-years-old boys — were charged with robbery on Wednesday. All four suspects are being held at the county juvenile detention center pending a court date, police said.

On April 6, Prince William County officers were called to investigate a robbery reported in the 14800 block of Blackburn Rd. in Woodbridge. The officers learned that the victim, a 14-year-old boy, got off the bus in the area and was walking home with another juvenile when they were approached by a group of other juveniles.

During the encounter, one of the boys in the group displayed a knife and demanded the victim’s shoes. The male juvenile took the shoes before the group dispersed. No injuries were reported.

During the investigation, officers learned the juveniles attended Rippon Middle School located at 15101 Blackburn Rd in Woodbridge. On April 7, the school resource officer at the middle school was assigned to further investigate the incident where it was learned that a firearm may have been in possession of one of the juveniles during the robbery.

School administration was immediately notified and found a loaded magazine and additional ammunition in the locker of one of the juveniles tied to the robbery.

The school resource officer also learned that another juvenile involved in the robbery had a firearm at school and that the weapon had been passed around between multiple students. Over the course of the investigation, the school resource officer spoke to several students who either had possession or knowledge of the gun’s presence on school grounds, police said.

Ultimately, the gun was not located due to the uncooperative nature of many of the juveniles involved, police said.

Last Friday, the school resource officer received information that one of the juveniles who was interviewed and originally denied having the weapon, was actually in possession of the gun. The firearm, which had been taken from the home of another juvenile involved, was eventually returned, and determined not to have been used in the robbery.

On Wednesday, following the investigation, the school resource officer obtained detention orders for four juveniles involved in the initial robbery and the gun being on school grounds. Three other juveniles were disciplined by school administration, police said.