An 18-year-old Reston man and recent graduate of South Lakes High School was chased and beaten by three suspected gang members last week on Tuesday night, the victim's parents said.
Police arrested one man, Melvin Arevalo-Alvayero, 24, of Laurel Glade Court, in connection with the reported beating that occurred along Laurel Glade, Officer Jacqui Smith of the Fairfax County Police Department said. He was charged with "malicious wounding" and is currently being held without bond in the Fairfax County Detention Center. "The investigation is ongoing," Smith said. "It is being investigated as being gang related."
The victim, according to his parents, suffered a cracked skull and bruised brain and was in intensive care at a local hospital until Saturday. The victim's father said his son was walking home from work Tuesday night near Dogwood Elementary School when he was confronted by three men who proceeded to chase the victim before catching up with him on Laurel Glade. "Young black students have been targets at South Lakes," said the victim's mother, who is black. "Parents need to be aware of what is going on in their neighborhoods. This could have been anyone's kid."
"This needs to stop," his father said. "I am afraid that he could have been killed."
South Lakes principal Realista "Rely" Rodriguez, said she received word of the attack on Wednesday morning. Immediately, Rodriguez tightened security in and around the high school. Late buses were canceled and teachers were asked to keep an ear open. "Obviously, we have no control of what goes on outside, but we are trying to be proactive with security at school," Rodriguez said. "We are always very cautious when anything like this happens."
The South Lakes principal said she had heard many false rumors about the incident and she invited parents to call her if anything like this should happen in the future.