Javiel Rosado Santiago, a 21-year-old Hispanic male, was killed on March 18, 2016, in Manassas, Virginia, during what police described as a planned drug deal that turned into a deadly robbery. The incident unfolded in the 7900 block of Blue Gray Circle, where Santiago had arranged to meet for a narcotics transaction. Upon his arrival, he was approached by three individuals: two men and a juvenile.
During the encounter, the juvenile suspect attempted to rob Santiago. This led to a gun battle, during which Santiago was shot and killed. In the exchange of fire, the 16-year-old juvenile suspect was also shot in the hand. When police initially responded to the scene around 10 p.m., they first located the injured teenager and transported him to a local hospital for treatment. While searching the area further, officers discovered Santiago, who had succumbed to his gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the homicide led to the swift identification and arrest of two of the three suspects. The day after the shooting, on March 19, 2016, police arrested 19-year-old Carlos Fernando Lazo-Rivera and the 16-year-old juvenile. Both were charged with murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and attempted robbery. The third suspect, identified as 20-year-old Alexander Esau Flores-Aguilar, also of Manassas, remained at large for a period, with law enforcement considering him armed and dangerous.
A multi-agency search involving the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was launched to locate Flores-Aguilar. He was eventually apprehended in Hempstead, New York, in July 2016, bringing the manhunt to a close. Flores-Aguilar was taken into custody and awaited extradition to Virginia to face charges of murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and attempted robbery. Javiel Rosado Santiago was survived by his wife, daughter, parents, and numerous siblings.
