WASHINGTON — Several homes were shot at over the weekend in Prince William County, Virginia, the latest in a bizarre series of seemingly random shootings aimed at occupied houses that has puzzled police since 2016.
Police were called to a home on Eileen Court in Woodbridge after someone opened fire on the home and a car between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. Saturday. No one was injured and several shell casings were recovered, police say.
Later that day, several shots were heard behind some town houses at Sedgewick Place in Dumfries just after 5 a.m. Several bullet holes were found in three homes, but no injuries were reported in that incident either.
Prince William County spokesperson Jonathon Perok said that there was a third shooting incident, but nothing was struck. He added that these cases appear to be random and there is no indication that they were targeted attacks.
“It’s either someone recklessly using a firearm or this is something that occurred in commission of another crime,” said Perok.
He said the investigation into these cases has been hindered because reports of the incidents were delayed several hours.
“It’s always important to call us immediately … that way we’re able to get into the neighborhoods and at least try to stop vehicles,” Perok said.
Last year, at least 20 homes throughout Prince William County were shot at. Bullets were found lodged in exterior and interior walls, windows and a glass door. Perok said that investigators did not find a connection among those incidents.
One of the obstacles in the 2016 investigation was that homeowners didn’t always know their homes were shot at until they discovered bullets lodged into walls and windows, sometimes days later.
WTOP’s Kathy Stewart contributed to this report.
