In the spring of 2024, a tragic event unfolded in Manassas, Virginia, resulting in the death of 22-year-old Asia Payne. On the morning of April 2nd, a welfare check at the Westgate Apartments and Townhomes led to a grim discovery. Inside one of the units, officers found Ms. Payne and 34-year-old Leann Renee Harris, both of whom had been fatally shot.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly pointed to a single suspect, Edward Jackson Bland. Bland, who was an acquaintance of both women and the cousin of Leann Harris, had become the subject of police attention earlier that same day. In the early hours, before the discovery of the victims, Bland had committed a carjacking at gunpoint in Manassas. His attempt to flee was cut short when the stolen vehicle broke down in Shenandoah County. It was there, after being approached by law enforcement for suspicious activity, that Bland confessed to the killings in Manassas.
Following his confession, Prince William County Police were able to locate the apartment where the women were found. The subsequent legal proceedings brought some measure of closure to the families of the victims. In December 2025, a jury found Edward Jackson Bland guilty of two counts of aggravated murder, second-degree murder, carjacking, and multiple firearm-related felonies. His sentencing was scheduled for June 4, 2026. The case was particularly heartbreaking as it was revealed that Leann Renee Harris was pregnant at the time of her death.
