Manassas man charged in assault

An 18-year-old Manassas man was arrested after he and three other people allegedly beat two people following an argument at the Manassas Mall on Wednesday afternoon, Prince William County police said.

Mark Preston Johnson of 8182 Peakwood Court, Apt. 5, was charged with two counts of assault and battery for beating an 18-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman, said 1st Sgt. Kim Chinn, police spokeswoman.

The 18-year-old victim was walking out of the mall with two woman around 4:30 p.m. when Johnson and three other people began yelling at him, police said.

The two groups got into an argument and the victim left the mall. The attackers got into a car and followed the victims to their car, police said.

Another argument ensued and Johnson allegedly grabbed the male victim by his hair and pushed him to the ground. The victim’s car door was open and he hit his neck on the door, police said.

Johnson and the other men began to kick the victim when he was on the ground. The 22-year-old female tried to protect the other victim, but was kicked in the arm, police said.

Johnson was arrested Thursday following an investigation and is being held in lieu of $2,500 bond, police said.