Three United Rentals employees sustained life-threatening injuries Wednesday morning during a workplace shooting at a facility located at 9415 Wellington Road in Manassas, Virginia. Manassas City Police Chief Doug Keen stated that officers arrived at the scene around 7 a.m. following multiple 911 calls reporting an active shooter. The suspect, identified as 37-year-old coworker Marvin Grant of Charlotte, North Carolina, fled the area before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a vehicle pursuit and standoff with Virginia State Police in Augusta County.
Chronology of the Manassas Workplace Shooting and Statewide Pursuit
Police initially responded to the United Rentals branch on Wellington Road at approximately 7 a.m. on Wednesday, treating the incident as an active shooter situation. Officers discovered two victims in the garage or bay area of the business, while a third victim came from an office area and entered the garage, according to local authorities. All three men were transported to the hospital in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.
Investigators identified Marvin Grant as the alleged gunman and issued a statewide “be on the lookout” alert after determining he had left Northern Virginia driving a gray Toyota Camry or Toyota Corolla with temporary North Carolina registration tags. Virginia State Police troopers received an alert around 8:20 a.m. indicating Grant might be in Rockingham County. A trooper subsequently spotted the vehicle traveling south on I-81 near the 235-mile marker in Augusta County.
The vehicle pulled into a rest area near the 232-mile marker, where troopers attempted a traffic stop. Grant briefly exited the vehicle before re-entering it and continuing southbound on I-81, prompting a police chase. Near the 227-mile marker, Grant pulled over, stepped out of the vehicle with a gun pointed at his head, and engaged with a responding tactical team and negotiator. Around 10:30 a.m., Grant sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to state police, who confirmed that troopers did not use force during the encounter.
Investigation and Community Impact in Manassas
Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage from inside the United Rentals facility and investigating what motivated the gunfire. “Our working theory is that there was some kind of altercation that led to this,” Chief Keen said, noting that investigators believe the incident stemmed from workplace violence rather than a random act.
During the initial response, nearby schools were briefly placed on lockdown. Those restrictions have since been lifted, and Jennie Dean Elementary School has resumed normal operations, according to police. Residents in the area were advised to stay indoors, secure their doors, and avoid approaching the active investigation scene. United Rentals released a statement acknowledging the incident, stating that employee and community safety is their top priority and confirming they are cooperating with law enforcement while supporting affected team members.
Did You Know? The United Rentals branch on Wellington Road in Manassas features both an office area and a garage or bay workspace where two of the victims were initially located by responding officers.
Critical condition of victims and suspect suicide on I-81
What were the conditions of the victims following the shooting?
All three victims, who are employees of United Rentals, were hospitalized in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.
How did the manhunt for the suspect conclude?
Following a pursuit on I-81 in Augusta County, suspect Marvin Grant stopped near the 227-mile marker, exited his vehicle with a firearm pointed at his head, and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound around 10:30 a.m. during a standoff with Virginia State Police.
Was the shooting classified as an active shooter event or workplace violence?
While police initially responded to an active shooter call, investigators subsequently determined the incident appears to be an act of workplace violence resulting from an altercation between coworkers.
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