A gunman remained at large Wednesday after shooting three coworkers at a workplace in Manassas, Virginia, triggering a heavy police response and a regional manhunt, authorities said.
Officers were called to the scene on Wellington Road early Wednesday morning, where a substantial police presence converged on the area. Three people were struck by gunfire, according to police, and the suspected shooter — identified as a coworker of the victims — fled before officers arrived.
The conditions of the three wounded workers were not immediately released. Police did not say whether the injuries were believed to be life-threatening, and no motive has been confirmed. Investigators have not publicly described what preceded the shooting or whether the suspect was known to have a history of disputes with the victims.
The search for the suspect extended across Northern Virginia as local and regional agencies coordinated to locate him. Authorities described the gunman as armed and dangerous and urged residents in the area to remain alert while the investigation continued. Wellington Road and surrounding streets drew a visible law enforcement presence through the morning as officers processed the scene and gathered evidence.
Manassas, a city of roughly 43,000 residents about 30 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., is part of Prince William County's broader Northern Virginia corridor. The shooting unfolded in an area that mixes commercial and industrial properties, where employees typically arrive for early shifts — a detail that made the timing of the attack particularly alarming to those who work nearby.
Workplace shootings remain a persistent concern across the United States, and incidents involving coworkers as suspects often raise questions about warning signs, workplace safety protocols, and how quickly employers and law enforcement respond to internal threats. In this case, police have not said whether the suspect was still employed at the business or whether any prior complaints had been filed.
Officials asked anyone with information about the suspect's whereabouts to contact law enforcement immediately rather than approach him. The investigation is ongoing, and police said additional details would be released as they become available.
The shooting drew swift attention across the region, with the search for the gunman disrupting normal routines in and around Manassas. Schools and businesses in the immediate vicinity were not immediately reported to be under lockdown, but authorities advised the public to avoid the Wellington Road area while the manhunt continued.
As of Wednesday, no arrests had been announced, and the suspect's name had not been publicly released. Police continued to interview witnesses and review evidence from the scene as they worked to establish a timeline of the attack.