Alexandria police arrested three juveniles on Tuesday and charged them with second degree murder in the death of T.C. Williams High School student Schuyler Jones.
A judge set bond for the 17-year-old Alexandria youth. Two 16-year-old Fairfax County juveniles are being held on unrelated charges, according to sources familiar with all of the suspects. One of those arrested attends Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, and the two 16-year-olds attend West Potomac High School.
Schuyler, a T.C. Williams junior, was at Market Square in Old Town on Sept. 13, after having dinner with friends. An altercation occurred between Jones and a group of juvenile males, resulting in Jones' death. The three male suspects will be tried as adults if the juvenile-court judge finds probable cause to believe that they committed the murder.
“Each juvenile is charged with second degree murder under Virginia Code Section 18.2-32,” said S. Randolph Sengel, Alexandria’s commonwealth’s attorney. “These charges were filed following further consultation with the medical examiner’s office on Sept. 29.
"A preliminary hearing will be scheduled in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. Following that, the commonwealth will seek to have these juveniles certified as adults in the Circuit Court.”
ONCE THE juvenile judge finds probable cause, that certification is automatic. “The juvenile statute was amended around 1996 and says that juveniles over the age of 14 who commit homicide or certain other violent felonies shall be tried as adults once probable cause is established,” Sengel said.
The preliminary hearing must be held within 21 days, and the trial will likely begin early next year, according to sources.
Sengel said the investigation is continuing. More charges could be filed.