Manassas family robbed, attacked with pepper spray in their home

A Manassas family of seven were attacked with pepper spay and pistol-whipped during a home invasion robbery late Saturday night.

Four children, ages 8 to 11, and three adults were assaulted by armed robbers at their house in the 10300 block of Frank Court shortly about 10:10 p.m., according to Manassas police. No one suffered serious injuries.

At least three intruders forced their way through the front door of the home. One man was armed with a handgun, a second man was armed with a long weapon, possibly a rifle or shotgun.

Upon entering the house, the robbers sprayed all of the members of the family with pepper spray. Because they were sprayed, the victims were not able to give police a good description of the suspects, said Sgt. Marc Woolverton.

Police believe there were between three and five Hispanic men involved in the attack, which lasted between 15 and 20 minutes.

After being sprayed, the adults — a 45-year-old man, 42-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man — were struck with the pistol and forced to the floor. The children, two sets of twin boys ages 8 and 11, were locked inside a bathroom.

The robbers demanded cash from a business owned by one of the men and forced him to hand over an undisclosed amount of cash from a briefcase he brought home from work.

The woman was forced into her bedroom and robbed of jewelry.

All three adults were also robbed of their personal valuables and one of the men was cut on the face and hand by a knife wielded by one of the suspects.

The family was not able to tell police how the robbers left the house. One of the men called 911 about 10:30 p.m.

Rescue workers from the Greater Manassas Volunteer Rescue Squad treated the victims for exposure to the pepper spray and a variety of lacerations. No one was transported to the hospital.

Woolverton said there have been no similar robberies in Manassas.

“We’ve not had a home invasion robbery in at least 10 years,” he said.

The investigation of the robbery is being led by Master Detective Louis DeRamus. Anyone with information is asked to call him at 703-257-8040, or the 24-hour confidential Manassas City Crime Solvers tip line at (703) 330-0330.

Crime Solvers will pay a reward of $1,000 cash for information leading to the identity and arrests of those responsible for the robbery.