The murderer and his accomplice.
Posted on 12/22/2008 12:22:38 PM PST by ReagansRaiders
Staff Published: December 22, 2008
Prince William County police have charged a 17-year-old in the double slayings of a Dale City woman and her teenage son.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul Ebert said Monday that Jean C. Smith, 39, and her son James Smith, 19, were killed during an attempted burglary at their home on Langford Court on Friday afternoon.
The 17-year-old, who lives in the neighborhood, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, burglary and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Neighbors and sources identified the teen as Xavier Pinckney.
His girlfriend, 22-year-old Jacqueline Munoz, has been charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly providing him an alibi, police said.
Ebert said he is seeking to have the murder charges upgraded to capital murder. But he is unable to seek the death penalty due to a Supreme Court ruling banning capital punishment for juveniles.
Police provided a chilling account of what happened in the Smith home on Friday afternoon.
James Smith, home from James Madison University for the holidays, was believed to have been home alone, sleeping on the couch, when the burglar entered the house Friday.
He was shot and killed.
His mother returned home from Hylton High School, where she volunteers with the Hylton choir, and found her son’s body, county police Maj. Ray Colgan said. she’d been at the school taking pictures as choir members sang Christmas carols in the halls.
“She was discovered by the suspect and he shot and killed her,” Colgan said.
Connor Smith, 16, returned home from school Friday about 3 p.m. and found his brother’s body.
Detectives worked 24 hours a day to solve the case, police 1st Sgt. Kim Chinn said. And it was neighbors who led them to the suspect. Officers knocked on doors Sunday afternoon seeking information. By midnight, police had arrested Pinckney.
Colgan said the teenager charged knew the family and had visited their home as a child, though he had not been there in a few years.
Ebert would not say if the teen has a criminal record, but did say he “was known to law enforcement.”
Pinckney will be certified to stand trial as an adult during a court hearing on Jan. 12.
Colgan said police believe he chose the house to burglarize because it looked vacant. There were no cars parked out front.
“This is an extremely tragic case. The victims were civic-minded people,” Colgan said.
Prince William County Supervisor Marty Nohe, a spokesman for the Smith family, said news of an arrest will help the family in their grieving process.
“Knowing that an arrest has been made is a big relief for the family,” he said, adding they are deeply appreciative of the work of the police department.
Police on Monday were searching near the crime scene for further evidence. A command post was set up at the Prince William County Ice Center on Dale Boulevard.
May the victims RIP. And prayer for the rest of the family....I cannot imagine finding your own brother shot like that.
A 17 year old with a 22 year old girlfriend...
Jean was an incredible woman and she raised an equally incredible family. I got to know her when she was seeking the GOP endorsement for a school board seat back in 2003.
The dirtbag who murdered them... Well, I’ll let God judge him...
According to comments on the source page, she wasn’t his only “girlfriend.” But anyone coulda guessed that, obviously.
This is exactly why I’m getting a handgun for Christmas, why I’ll be taking multiple firearms classes, and plan on target practicing a few times a month. I refuse to be a victim. My dad, OTOH, told me that if my life was ever in danger, along with those of my kids, I’d better think twice before shooting because the perp might also have kids and a wife, and that I should consider the fact that he also has a mom and a dad somewhere. Where he came up with that liberal hooey is anyone’s guess.
Looks like the brother left a comment at the source site:
wow. x i cannot believe you, i had class with you, how could you do this.
TO MY MOM!!!!!
i swear you betta get charge as an adult
or spend every second of the rest of your lif behind bars.
by yourself,
you dont deserve to live
because you took the lives of two people who did.
i hate you!
rip mama & jim
Just damn.
Don't say anything stupid to a reporter. He gets to live with this quote now.
That logic is so twisted. So you should sacrifice yourself as a victim so the perp can see his kids again? HA! When two people are put in that situation, I have faith that the ones who deserve to see their children again, will.
My wife has a pretty good observation when young people murder. She wonders about todays kids,when everyone makes the team, and everyone gets a trophy having never experienced failure of any kind for the most part. That, when they do final experience it, they have NO idea of how to handle it.
Certainly has merit, IMHO.
Typically, I am adamantly against abortion. The dirtbag who murdered the Smiths I would have made an exception for.
His teacher
“The perp might also have kids and a wife”.
I am so sorry for your loss and the loss to PW county Republicans. This is so terribly sad for the family. May God bless the surviving son. It is doubly horrible when these crimes happen at the holidays, because the prolonged hoopla every year adds to the suffering.
Virginia ping
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