Manassas motel armed standoff continues

MANASSAS-- City officials have informed its residents about an ongoing armed standoff outside Old Town Manassas.

Police sent a reverse 911 alert to residents who are signed up with the city’s Code Red system, telling them of the armed barricade situation at the Home Style Inn at 9913 Cockrell Road.

“The system can provide a map of the area and list street closures for those who may have not seen or heard about the situation on the news,” said Manassas police Sgt. Tim Neumann.

A set of double barricades were erected at Cockrell Road and Zimbro Avenue after shots were fired at the inn about 5 p.m. Wednesday.

As of 10 a.m. today, the gunman was still holed up inside the motel, alone, preventing everyone from residents to businesses owners and their employees from entering the area.

A car wash and several offices line Cockrell Road, and for some it was an unwelcomed day off from work.

“I just don’t know how they expect us to get to work and go about our day if we can’t get into the area,” said a woman who called News & Messenger’s newsroom.

And it may be many more hours before the standoff comes to an end.

Manassas authorities say it’s not worth risking an officer’s life if no one is being held hostage.

“Why send one of our officers into a situation where we know a man does not have a hostage, is not trying to hurt anyone but himself, does not want to live and doesn’t value life. That would be putting one of our people at risk for no reason. It’s really just a waiting game at this point, and hopefully he’ll come out of there,” said Neumann.

During the early hours of the standoff, police communicated with the man using a telephone in hopes to coax him out.

It became clear about midnight that plan wasn’t working.

Through the night, police lobbed tear gas at the suspect, who has been identified at 50-year-old John Carlson.

Carlson then allegedly fired back overnight, shooting several rounds from his semi-automatic handgun from inside the motel room.

The last known volley of tear gas was fired into the motel about 6:30 a.m., giving some indication the man was still alive.

Virginia State Police authorities have taken over the operation for now, have a SWAT team on scene that is again expected to use more tear gas, and are expected to be there for much of the day.

Their presence provides an opportunity for authorities from Manassas and Prince William County, who were on the scene all night, a much needed respite, officials said.

Officers were originally called to the inn about 5 p.m. Wednesday, after Carlson became involved in a argument with wife in the motel’s parking lot, said police. When officers arrived, they confronted Carlson about an outstanding arrest warrant from Chesapeake, where he has been convicted as a habitual DUI offender, said Neumann.

When officers asked him to come out of the room to talk about the arrest warrant, he allegedly fired a gun, shattering the room’s only window, said Neumann.

Carlson and his wife have been living at the motel on and off for about a year, police said.

After shots were fired, at least 40 people had to be evacuated from the motel.

They were provided shelter by the Red Cross, said Neumann.
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Kiser is a staff writer for the News & Messenger.