Police say the 16-year-old was an innocent bystander when two people exchanged gunfire near the Manassas train station during First Friday.
MANASSAS, VA — A 16-year-old Patriot High School student was killed when gunfire broke out during a crowded First Friday celebration in Old Town Manassas, and police have charged a 21-year-old man with second-degree murder while continuing to search for another suspected shooter.
The shooting happened about 9:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, near the railroad tracks and Manassas train station, where thousands of people had gathered downtown. Manassas police said investigators believe two people exchanged gunfire before fleeing the immediate area. The teenage girl was struck during the exchange and died. Police have described her as an innocent bystander who was not involved in the confrontation.
The teenager has been identified by her school community and family supporters as Ashley Intihar, a 16-year-old student at Patriot High School in Nokesville. Manassas police had not initially released her name. Patriot High School Principal David Van Gelder informed families that a student had died in the shooting and said the school was working with her family and providing support to students and staff affected by her death.
Police identified Tasheem Rashad Douglas, 21, of Prince William County, as one of the suspected shooters. Investigators said they believe Douglas fired the round that killed the teenager. Douglas was also shot during the incident and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Authorities later took him into custody and charged him with second-degree murder, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The charges are accusations, and the case has not been adjudicated.
Investigators are still working to identify and locate the second person believed to have exchanged gunfire with Douglas. Manassas City / Manassas Park Crime Solvers said Sept. 7 that the second suspect remained at large. Police have asked people who were in Old Town during the shooting to provide photographs, cellphone video, doorbell-camera footage or other information that could help detectives determine what happened and identify everyone involved.
The shooting unfolded during First Friday, a recurring event that brings residents and visitors into Old Town Manassas for an evening of dining, entertainment and community activities. Police Chief Doug Keen said about 10,000 people were downtown that night. Officers closed parts of the area as they investigated and established a reunification location for people trying to find relatives or friends who had been at the event.
In the days after the shooting, mourners gathered near the train station and elsewhere in Manassas to remember Intihar. Flowers, candles, stuffed toys and handwritten messages were placed at a memorial near the station. Community members and city leaders also attended gatherings honoring the teenager. A fundraising page created for her family describes her as a dedicated student who was active in the All Saints Catholic Church community and hoped to pursue a career in forensic science.
The killing also brought renewed attention to Douglas’ legal history. Court records reviewed by local news organizations showed he had a prior felony conviction and was out on bond in another matter when the Sept. 4 shooting occurred. The Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office later released information about his previous and pending cases. Those earlier proceedings are separate from the new charges filed in connection with Intihar’s death.
Authorities have not announced a motive for the confrontation or publicly identified the second suspected shooter. Investigators continue to examine evidence from the crowded downtown area and have said the homicide investigation remains active. As of Sept. 9, police and Crime Solvers were still seeking information that could lead them to the second person believed to have fired a weapon during the exchange.
Author note: Last updated September 9, 2026.