Fairfax County police haven't as yet charged anyone in connection with the shooting death, early Saturday morning, of a Falls Church man at a Fair Oaks apartment complex. But they've already spoken with the person believed to have pulled the trigger.
THE INCIDENT occurred around 4:50 a.m. in the courtyard behind 12205 Pender Creek Circle in the Fair Oaks at Pender Creek Apartments, off West Ox Road near Fair Oaks Mall. Killed was Jack S. Cornejo, 22, of Nealon Drive.
Police officers raced to the scene Saturday after callers reported hearing people fighting and possible gunshots. There, they discovered Cornejo with an apparent gunshot wound and, said police spokesman Rich Perez, "Rescue [personnel] determined that he was dead at the scene."
He said police could not yet reveal a possible reason for the shooting or the disagreement which led up to it. He also declined to reveal specifically where the victim was shot, except to say it was in the "upper body." And until an arrest is made, he could not release any information regarding whether the shooter lives in that apartment complex or had simply met Cornejo there.
However, Perez said that, several hours after the fatal shooting, "We were able to locate and identify" the person with whom police believe Cornejo had an altercation right before he was shot. And police have interrogated this person.
In addition, said Perez, "We're still interviewing witnesses." Police will also examine evidence from the shooting, and they anticipate receiving the results of Cornejo's autopsy from the Northern Virginia medical examiner, sometime this week. All this information will then be presented to the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office for consideration in any possible criminal charges.
Meanwhile, detectives would like to hear from anyone with information regarding this tragedy. Callers may phone the non-emergency police number of 703-691-2131, or Fairfax County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).