On the night of February 19, 2021, in Annandale, Virginia, 18-year-old Anthony 'Tony' Isai Benitez, a male from Fairfax, was fatally shot in an act of violence that also left another juvenile male wounded. The incident unfolded at the Fairmont Gardens Apartments in the 4100 block of Wadsworth Court. Fairfax County Police were dispatched to the scene shortly before 11 p.m. following reports of a shooting.
Upon their arrival, they discovered Benitez in the apartment complex's parking lot with gunshot wounds to his upper body. Despite the life-saving efforts of fire and rescue personnel, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation revealed that Benitez and a juvenile male were outside one of the apartment buildings when a group of individuals approached them and opened fire. The juvenile who was with Benitez sustained gunshot wounds to his lower body and was found in a nearby apartment. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment and was subsequently released. The crime scene was extensive, with multiple cartridge casings found in the parking lot. The gunfire also caused damage to several vehicles and a building in the vicinity. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later conducted an autopsy and officially ruled Benitez's death a homicide.
For a period, the case remained under active investigation with no arrests made, and the Fairfax County Police Department's Major Crimes Bureau urged the public for any information that could lead to an arrest. Victim specialists were assigned to support Benitez's family through the difficult time. A GoFundMe page was also set up to assist with family and funeral expenses.
Ultimately, an arrest was made in connection with the fatal shooting. Ezequiel Diaz-Mondragon was charged with the murder of Anthony Benitez. In June 2025, a Fairfax County jury convicted Diaz-Mondragon, who was 21 at the time of the verdict, of first-degree murder. The motive for the shooting was reported to be an alleged gang rivalry. During the trial, it was stated that Diaz-Mondragon and his associates approached Benitez and his friend, announced themselves, and then began firing with multiple weapons, including a Glock and a Sig Sauer P320. It was determined that Diaz-Mondragon aimed directly at Benitez, striking him in the back of the neck and killing him. Following his conviction, Ezequiel Diaz-Mondragon faced the possibility of life in prison.
