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January 8, 2021

Local man identified as Rectortown murder victim

File Photo/Lawrence Emerson

The violent spree from Manassas to Rectortown left 3 people dead and 3 wounded Wednesday night.

Authorities on Friday morning released the name of the Fauquier man murdered Wednesday night near Rectortown.

Francis Drew, 74, of Markham, died at the scene of his encounter with a killer on the run after shooting four family members in Manassas, Fauquier sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Lewis said.

Mr. Drew apparently stopped to check on a gold Honda sedan that crashed on Maidstone Road, according to Sgt. Lewis.

Investigators believe Asa E. Mitchell, 21, of Manassas, after crashing his car, fatally shot Mr. Drew.

About 90 minutes earlier, Mr. Mitchell shot four family members — killing one — in a Manassas home, according to Prince William County police.

At 8:06 p.m. Wednesday, the first Fauquier deputy arrived to investigate a vehicle crash reported at the railroad tracks on Maidstone Road, just southwest of Rectortown.

Deputies found Mr. Drew’s body near his gray Lexus, according to Sgt. Lewis. He apparently died of a gunshot wound, but the state medical officer’s report will confirm the cause of death.

Soon thereafter, they found Mr. Mitchell, still alive, with an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Deputies administered CPR, but the alleged killer died at the scene, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies found “a pistol” at the scene near Rectortown, Sgt. Lewis said.

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badelectronics · January 10, 2021 at 6:39 am

Poor sjilii. You got sadz?!?!?
Don't curse the dark! Democracy is strong.
Your fire in woods awaits.

Damonthenes · January 9, 2021 at 4:18 pm

Democrats are party of hate nd racism.

Denosthenes · January 9, 2021 at 6:45 am

Democrat Party is the world's most successful hate group. It attracts poor people who hate rich people, black people who hate white people, gay people who hate straight people, feminists who hate men, environmentalists who hate internal combustion engine and a lot of bratty college kids who hate their parents. However the real success is that it attracts the support of journalists who hate Republicans, and who therefore work tirelessly to convince the rest of us that we should vote democrats.

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