Community 'Relieved' Military Site Shooter Arrested

Sgt. First Class Paul Butler works at the off of Sudley Road in Manassas and said he and his coworkers were relieved to hear the news that a person of interest had been taken into custody, accused of shooting at five separate military installations in Northern Virginia between October and November 2010.

No one was injured, but Yonathan Melaku, 22, is now  facing federal charges in connection with the shootings, one of which occurred in nearby Woodbridge at the U.S. Coast Guard recruiting center in early November 2010. 

Woodbridge Patch is reporting that, according to an affidavit, Melaku caused $1,800 in damage to the building. The front door frame and the lock were damaged. Police found evidence of one shot fired at the building. This was the last building that was shot at during the spree, the affidavit states.

Earlier, on Oct. 26, bullet damage was also discovered at the Marine's recruiting substation in Chantilly. The building was under renovation at the time, but police found bullet fragments at the scene.

Sgt. Butler recalled the sentiment at the Manassas recruiting station during that time.

"We were concerned for the community and ourselves," he said. "From military to law enforcement—all of them."

Despite the shootings, the local recruiting center, which provides information about the Marines, Army, Air Force and Navy, remained open, but  staff remained   "vigilant" and more  "aware of our surroundings," Butler said.

Yonathan Melaku, from the Franconia area, was taken into custody back on June 17 after last week's suspicious package scare at the Pentagon. Evidence found at his home by authorities after his arrest resulted in charges connecting Melaku to the five building shootings.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, including the police departments of Arlington County, Fairfax County and Prince William County; the Pentagon Force Protection Agency; the Virginia State Police; the Naval Criminal Investigative Service; the Coast Guard Investigative Service; the U.S. Park Police; U.S. Marine Corps Base Quantico; and the Military District of Washington Provost Marshal Office.

Sgt. Butler said it was nice to see organizations come together as a team to catch the person responsible.