Two men charged with killing seven people in Richmond earlier this month admitted to slitting the throat of a 25-year-old Arlington man on New Year’s Eve in the Yorktown neighborhood, according to court records.
The victim, who was stabbed multiple times with kitchen knives in front of his parent’s house on the 5100 block of North 25th Street, survived the attack but is still in a local hospital. The Arlington County Police Department has not released the victim’s name because he is a witness in the case.
Ricky Javon Gray and Ray Joseph Dandridge, both 28, were arrested in Philadelphia on Jan. 7, and told detectives they were involved with the Arlington stabbing, according to a search warrant obtained by Arlington police. They are currently being held in custody in Richmond without bond.
At approximately 8:40 p.m. on Dec. 31, Gray and Dandridge, both of whom grew up in Arlington, attacked the victim as he was getting out of his car.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found a trail of blood leading from the vehicle to the residence. Three pieces of broken knife blades and a black knife handle were located near the parked car, the court records stated.
The victim’s wallet was missing after the attack, and at this time detectives are investigating it as a robbery, police officials said.
“We’re looking into the evidence that ties them into this brutal attack,” said Det. Rick Rodriguez, spokesman for the Arlington County Police Department. “We’re working together with Richmond police, Philadelphia police and U.S. marshals to see if they are involved in other similar-style crimes.”
Police searched the home of Gray’s grandmother in the 2100 block of South Monroe Street and seized three knives, boots and clothing. Police do not know how long Gray had been staying with his grandmother.
FOR THE FIRST WEEK after the attack, the victim was unable to speak to the police because of his injuries. His condition is improving and officers have been able to obtain information from him in recent days, Rodriguez said.
“He is a little shaken but he’s taking it one day at a time,” Rodriguez added. “We hope he heals quickly.”
Residents of Yorktown, which is known as a tranquil community filled with single-family homes, have been shaken by the ghastly attack, said David Haring, president of the Yorktown Civic Association. Haring said he can not recall a similar occurrence in Yorktown in the eight years he has lived in the community.
“Everybody in the neighborhood is shocked,” Haring said. “We’re a very peaceful neighborhood and certainly wouldn’t expect this sort of incident here.”
Yorktown residents have met with police to discuss the attack and neighborhood safety, and Haring said he has spoken to the victim’s family, who declined to speak with reporters.
Gray and Dandridge are charged with the New Year’s Day slaying of the four members of the Harvey family in Richmond. Bryan Harvey, 49, his wife Kathryn, 39, and their daughters Stella, 9, and Ruby, 4, were bound and their throats slit, Richmond police said. The Harvey’s home was then set on fire.
The two are also suspected in the murder five days later of Ashley Baskerville and her mother and stepfather. The house had been ransacked and numerous items taken, Richmond police said.
The two suspects have a long history of joint criminal activities. In March 1996 they pleaded guilty to a series of armed robberies in Washington and Alexandria.
Dandridge served nearly 10 years and was released last fall, and Gray served three years, court records show. Following his release, Gray was acquitted of abducting a man after a traffic accident, but was sentenced to 16 months in jail for cocaine possession.
Richmond officials have yet to determine where the two suspects will be tried, said Cynthia Price, spokesmen for the Richmond Police Department.
However, in all likelihood the homicides in Richmond will take precedence over the Arlington attack, Rodriguez said.