Three juveniles and three adults are facing charges after a mob assault outside of a community pool in the Sterling area Friday, Jan. 7, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office.
Two 17-year-old Sterling females say they were assaulted outside the Woodstone Community Pool on Sugarland Road by a large group of teens, five of whom were females. The altercation allegedly stemmed from comments made by one of the victims about the 17-year-old suspect.
The victims told authorities they planned to meet the 17-year-old Sterling female in the parking lot of the pool around 8:15 p.m. when two cars pulled into the lot. The victims said several suspects exited the vehicles and they were struck several times during the altercation.
After a lookout was posted for the suspect vehicles, a deputy in the area noticed a car pulling into a driveway along East Jefferson Drive that matched the vehicles' description. Several passengers in the car were seen running into the house.
Deputies took into custody six suspects who were inside the residence. John Thompson, 20, of Sterling, was charged with assault by mob, possession of alcohol by a minor and tampering with a vehicle. Laporche Renee Morris, 18, of Sterling, was charged with assault by mob, wearing a mask in a public place, and tampering with a vehicle. Shereece Nicole Thompson, 18, of Sterling, was charged with assault by mob, possession of alcohol by a minor and tampering with a vehicle. Charges are also pending against three female juveniles, ages 15, 16 and 17 for their involvement in the assault.
The two victims were taken to Loudoun Hospital where they were treated and released for minor injuries.
Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling) applauded the deputy sheriff's success in making the arrests. “There is a learning curve for some of the new arrivals, in understanding the ‘no nonsense’ culture here,” he said. “They naively think they can get away with it, when it’s really a quick turnaround on the part of the deputies.”
School Board member J. Warren Geurin (Sterling) extended his gratitude to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Department. He described the incident as “terrible,” but he disputed the notion that crimes are increasing in the area. “I think Sterling Park is a safe community,” he said. “Part of it, I suspect, is things are reported more today than perhaps they were years ago. ... I do agree there is a perception that it is not (safe). We have to guard against that.”
— Andrea Zentz