MANASSAS, Va. — Update: On May 25, 23-year-old Isaiah Malik Gordon was arrested and charged in this case with two counts of aggravated malicious wounding, one count of possession of a firearm on school grounds, two counts of use of a firearm during the commission of a felony and two counts of use of a firearm while on school grounds.
Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD) is investigating a shooting that occurred near a community athletic event in Manassas, Va. Sunday morning.
The shooting happened during a flag football game where there were hundreds of children playing.
PWCPD said in a news release, that officers responded before 11 a.m. to a report of shots fired near the athletic field of Louise A. Benton Middle School.
Police say two men received treatment for gunshot wounds.
Dean Ladson, who is a father of a football player, told WUSA9 he saw two men arguing before the shots were fired and he doesn’t understand why someone would even bring a weapon to a children's sporting event.
“This wasn't a gun show. This wasn't adult football. This wasn't a reason to have any kind of enmity or, or anger issues and whatnot. So whatever the reason behind what happened doesn't make sense,” Ladson said.
Ladson was unaware of the nature of the argument. He said he saw at least 200 to 300 kids were seen scattering around after hearing sounds of gunshots from the field.
"They aren’t supposed to be exposed to gun violence," he said. "They were [on the fields] to play … as kids do … but their day was ruined by senselessness."
Detectives are investigating the series of events that led to the shooting with hopes of attempting to identify and locate the suspect.
Investigators provided a vague description of the suspected shooter. Ladson is hoping that the person who pulled the trigger is taken into custody.
“These kids, they wait all week to play football and the innocent and naive to all that the evils of the world. And so with all these kids running around today, Justice needs to prevail,” Ladson said.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting should call police at 703-792-7000 or submit a tip online to pwcva.gov/policetip.
This is a developing story and will be updated when more information is available.