The city of Manassas was stunned in February 2010 by a shooting rampage that left three people dead and three wounded. But two Manassas police sergeants met the chaos head-on that night, and both have just been named their department’s Officers of the Year for their actions.
On Feb. 10, 2011, Jose Oswaldo Reyes-Alfaro began his deadly charge.
“The first thing I’m thinking is I have to get the scene secured,” said Sgt. S.A. Morbeto, who was first to arrive.
A woman lay dead, and curious residents had begun to gather amid distraught family members. Morbeto gave Sgt. T.J. Rodriguez, who had just started his shift, a brief rundown of the situation: scene contained, suspect armed and on the move, and more officers needed. Quickly.
He immediately headed out into the field.
“I was assisting another officer with processing evidence when the second shooting came on the radio,” Rodriguez said.
He told the officer to sit tight and headed about a block away, where the police chief and two additional officers met him. All they knew was that there were two gunshot victims inside.
“As we made entry we came across a scene that these officers probably in their lifetime have never experienced,” Rodriguez said. “None of these officers had ever experienced going into the house with an unknown potential, and then you go in and see a large amount of blood and an elderly woman leaning against the hallway. It’s overwhelming.”
Prince William County officers eventually took the suspect into custody while Rodriguez and his team secured the second scene.
“There was definitely a sense of togetherness and some strengthening and camaraderie and just some basic faith that people can pull through in times of crisis like that,” Morbeto said.
