Loudoun County, VA (March 9, 2020)- Two juveniles and two adults are facing charges after a firearm exchanged hands multiple times, including inside Woodgrove High School, in October 2019. The information about the exchange of the firearm inside the high school came to light in late February 2020 after a nearly two-month long investigation by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation into the firearm began when the gun was recovered after a disorderly call inside the Dulles Town Center on December 31, 2019. During an altercation between two subjects at the mall, one of the men dropped a firearm. The firearm was recovered by Deputies with the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office inside the mall without further incident. The man carrying the firearm was identified as 20-year-old Juan Joseph K. Jones, of Ashburn.
An ATF trace conducted on the firearm and returned in January found the gun belonged to a Purcellville resident. The firearm was determined to have been previously discovered missing by the owner but was never reported stolen to law enforcement.
As the investigation continued it was determined the firearm was taken by a juvenile relative of the owner of the firearm in October 2019. Detectives learned the juvenile had given the firearm to another juvenile. The names of the juveniles cannot be released due to the fact they are minors.
The second juvenile was identified and in late February it was confirmed the exchange of the firearm took place inside a bathroom at Woodgrove High School. Information was immediately relayed to Loudoun County Public Schools regarding the matter, which remained under investigation by the LCSO. There was no information that suggested there were plans to use the gun to threaten or harm any students at the school.
The continuing investigation determined the second juvenile sold the firearm to Jones in Lovettsville on October 23, 2019. The investigation revealed that Jones, and a second suspect, identified as 19-year-old Jacqueline P. Baxter of Ashburn, were operating and in possession of a vehicle stolen from the Chantilly area. They drove to Lovettsville to meet the juvenile and purchase the firearm. The three were driving in the Lovettsville area when they crashed the stolen car and left the vehicle off of the roadway. The three fled the area on foot, running through the property of Lovettsville Elementary School.
A passerby later reported to law enforcement that a vehicle in the 40 block of South Berlin Turnpike was abandoned and appeared to have been involved in a crash. A subsequent investigation into the auto theft connected both Jones and Baxter to the incident.
Jones was previously charged in January with carrying a concealed weapon and disorderly conduct in connection with the incident at the Dulles Town Center. He was arrested on additional charges on March 3, 2020 for receiving a stolen firearm, causing a firearm to be furnished to a minor, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, conspiracy to receive stolen property (vehicle), conspiracy to possess a firearm on school property (for running through Lovettsville Elementary School property), unauthorized use of a vehicle, hit-and-run and driving without a license.
Baxter was arrested on March 3, 2020, with receiving stolen property (vehicle), unauthorized use of a vehicle and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Jones is being held at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center no bond. Baxter was released from the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center on a $3,000 secured bond.
Juvenile petitions were issued Friday on the two juveniles in coordination with Loudoun County Juvenile Court Services. They were both served on the petitions Friday night with possession of a firearm on school property, carrying a concealed weapon, receiving with intent to distribute the stolen firearm, and possession of a firearm by a minor. The first juvenile is also being charged with grand larceny (firearm) and the second juvenile is being charged with receiving a stolen firearm.
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