5 Charged, 7 Guns Recovered After Shootout In Hybla Valley: Police

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Five people face charges and seven firearms have been recovered after a shootout between the occupants of two cars in a Fairfax County neighborhood, police announced Tuesday.

The shooting happened on Nov. 4 in the 7900 block of Janna Lee Avenue in Hybla Valley. Witnesses told police that a black sedan and a silver sedan approached each other before several people got out and began firing at one another.

The people involved returned to their cars and fled, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. No injuries were reported.

Officers responding around 4:53 p.m. found 24 cartridge casings and bullet holes in a vehicle and nearby street signs.

Investigators believe the shooting was an isolated incident involving people who knew one another.

Police Track Down Suspects, Recover Guns

Using witness descriptions and automated license plate readers, detectives identified the vehicles involved in the shooting.

About 90 minutes later, officers located one of the cars at a nearby shopping center and pulled it over.

A search uncovered a loaded gun with an extended magazine and an AR-style pistol with an obliterated serial number, police said.

The driver, Derrick Belizaire, 20, of Alexandria, was arrested and charged with carrying a concealed firearm, reckless discharge of a firearm, shooting in a public place, possession of an extended magazine and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

He was held without bond.

Two days later, on Nov. 6, police received a license plate reader alert for the second car. A police drone located it entering a motel parking lot in the 6000 block of Richmond Highway in Belle Haven.

Detectives saw an associated vehicle leaving the motel and stopped it. During the investigation, officers recovered four guns, all equipped with extended magazines, along with suspected narcotics.

Three people were charged in connection with that stop:

• Jacob Terrell, 24, of Lorton: Charged with multiple firearms and drug offenses, two counts of malicious shooting, two counts of malicious shooting at an occupied vehicle, reckless handling of a firearm and shooting in a public place. He was held without bond.
• Randall Terrell, 19, of South Carolina: Charged with multiple firearms offenses, two counts of malicious shooting, two counts of malicious shooting at an occupied vehicle, reckless handling of a firearm and shooting in a public place. He was held without bond.
• Isaac Adu, 23, of Alexandria: Charged with carrying a concealed firearm, possession of an extended magazine and a traffic violation. He was released on summonses.

Detectives also contacted Gershon Terrell, 50, of Alexandria, who was staying at the motel. Police said they recovered another firearm and additional narcotics from his room.

Gershon Terrell was charged with possession of a Schedule I or II drug and released on a $2,000 unsecured bond.

Police did not specify whether all five people charged participated in the shooting itself.

License Plate Readers Help Investigation

Police credited automated license plate reader technology and their Real Time Crime Center with helping identify and locate vehicles connected to the shooting.

The technology captures license plate information that investigators can use to identify vehicles associated with criminal investigations.

The use of license plate readers has also raised privacy concerns in Northern Virginia. In recent weeks, Arlington and Alexandria have moved to remove cameras amid concerns about data collection and potential misuse.

Related: Fairfax Pauses Flock Camera Expansion As Arlington Ends Its Program

Fairfax County police have defended their use of the technology, saying it allows investigators to focus on specific vehicles and avoid unnecessary traffic stops.

In all, investigators recovered seven firearms during the Hybla Valley investigation.

Anyone with information about the shooting can contact the Fairfax County Police Department's Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 2.

Anonymous tips can be submitted to Fairfax County Crime Solvers at 866-411-8477.