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Gunfire Rips Through 10,000-Strong Street Party in Old Town Manassas, Killing Teen Girl

A 16-year-old girl was killed and a 21-year-old man airlifted to a trauma center after gunfire erupted at Old Town Manassas's packed "First Friday" block party — and by Saturday morning, police still had no one in custody.

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BY OBSERVER STAFF

The Weekly Observer

SEP 5, 2026 · 4 MIN READ
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Gunfire Rips Through 10,000-Strong Street Party in Old Town Manassas, Killing Teen Girl
Illustrative image of police emergency lights at night — not a photo from the actual Manassas scene. Photo by Michael Förtsch via Unsplash.

A festive monthly street party in Old Town Manassas, Virginia, turned into a scene of panic and death Friday night when gunfire broke out in a crowd of roughly 10,000 people, killing a 16-year-old girl and seriously wounding a 21-year-old man, police said.

The shooting was reported around 9:30 p.m. near the historic Manassas Railroad Depot, close to Foster's Grille at the intersection of Battle and Center streets, according to NBC4 Washington. Witnesses told reporters a group of young people had been arguing moments before shots rang out, sending families sprinting away from vendor booths and live music stages that lined the downtown streets for the city's "First Friday" celebration.

The girl died from her injuries; the 21-year-old man was flown by helicopter to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where he was listed in serious but non-life-threatening condition, per WJLA/ABC7. Neither victim's identity has been publicly released.

No suspect, no motive yet

As of Saturday morning, Manassas Police Chief Doug Keen said no shooter had been identified or arrested. Investigators have not disclosed a motive or suspect description, and it remains unclear how many people fired weapons.

"We know someone saw something. We need the community's help to help identify the shooters involved in this incident."

That appeal from Chief Keen came alongside a request for anyone with cellphone photos, videos, or doorbell-camera footage from around the railroad tracks to submit it through a police tip portal, rather than posting it on social media, according to Potomac Local. Detectives set up a QR code on the department's website for evidence uploads and asked witnesses to call 703-257-8043.

First Friday is a recurring family event that runs monthly from February through November, drawing thousands downtown for live music, vendors and activities. In the chaos, police briefly evacuated parts of Old Town and opened a reunification site at a Farmers Market parking lot on Prince William Street for families separated in the crowd surge.

Manassas Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger said the city was grieving an evening that was supposed to be about "celebration and connection." Fox 5 DC reported her saying "violence has no place in Manassas" and that residents and visitors "deserve to feel safe when they gather in the city."

The shooting is now the subject of an active homicide investigation by Manassas City Police, with Detective Tim Urey assigned to the case. No court dates or charges have been announced. Police say more information will be released "as it becomes available and when appropriate," and city officials have not said whether future First Friday events will proceed with additional security.

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