1 person shot, another found injured in wooded area in Manassas

MANASSAS, Va. - Prince William County police are investigating a shooting in a wooded area in Manassas.

The shooting happened at around 3:41 p.m. Wednesday along a walking path along Rixlew Lane nearby a parking lot at Manassas Mall. The area is also located nearby Stonewall Jackson High School, Ellis Elementary School and an alternative school called New Directions, but the shooting did not occur at any of those locations, according to police.

A male victim was found suffering from a gunshot wound. He was flown by helicopter from the high school to a local hospital where he underwent surgery. A police spokesperson said he was talking, alert and is expected to survive.

Another male victim was also located in the area with a minor injury after being hit with some sort of object to his face. He was also transported to the hospital for treatment. Both victims are believed to be in their late teens or early 20s.

Police believe the victims were walking, one of them possibly with a bicycle, when they were attacked.

"We do believe that this isn't a random act," said Prince William County Police spokesperson Jonathan Perok. "There is a possibility that everyone did know one another, but we are still trying to work on suspect descriptions and possible identifications."

After the attack, police said the suspects headed back to the parking lot and sped off in a car - possibly a sedan. Investigators are still working on a description of the vehicle.

Police alerted nearby schools about the shooting and they were temporarily locked down as a precaution.