Woodbridge man, co-defendants are no strangers to the law

MANASSAS — Charles Stephson Zimmerman, 18, appeared in court Friday morning requesting a court appointed attorney for several charges he is facing, including murder.

Zimmerman, of 16739 Sweeny Lane in Woodbridge, already was behind bars when he was charged May 12, along with three other men, with the murder of 18-year-old Matthew Allan Ruane, who was shot outside his Dale City home April 29.

He was arrested May 10 for possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine and for the possession of two unauthorized credit cards. Also in jail when the murder charges were issued was Vincent Antonio White Jr. 19, of 2939 Madeira Court.

Police also charged Nana Djobeng Yaw, 19, of 2939 Madeira Court and Colante Devon Mason, 19, of 2000 Sequoia Court with Ruane’s murder.

Ruane was shot twice in the head in front of his home on the 14500 block of Bakersville Street.

According to a search warrant filed May 7, Zimmerman, White and Yaw were together on the night of April 17, almost two weeks prior to Ruane’s murder. The three men were in a white Toyota owned by Zimmerman’s mother. White pointed a small silver handgun at two Woodbridge residents, according to the warrant.

When interviewed by Prince William County police May 1, White admitted to having a .22 caliber revolver on the night of the brandishing. White then gave two guns to Zimmerman, the warrant states.

White was arrested and charged with two counts of brandishing a firearm, and a search warrant was issued for the white Toyota.

The search warrant states no weapons were found in the car.

Prince William County police spokeswoman Sgt. Kim Chinn would not comment when asked whether any of the weapons used in the brandishing were the same used in Ruane’s murder. However, she did state the murder weapon had not been found.

She also would not comment on whether White confessed to the murder during his May 1 interview with police.

All four young men are scheduled to have a preliminary hearing in Prince William County General District Court on June 11 on charges of murder and the use of a firearm in commission of a felony.

Yaw also will appear in court later this month on a misdemeanor larceny charge. He was arrested April 9; the incident occurred March 13.

White will also be in court June 14 for two counts of brandishing a firearm.

Zimmerman will be in court later this month for the drug and credit card charges he faces.

Mason, who was not with the trio on the night of April 17, has previously been charged with several traffic violations and pleaded guilty to a 2001 possession of marijuana charge.