Suspected Gang Associate Charged With Brandishing Gun in Dispute

Fairfax County police arrested an area man in late March for alleged gang participation and brandishing a gun, according to court records.

Weesam Fayyad, a 22-year-old resident of Rose Hill, was arrested on March 23 and charged with participation in a criminal street gang, assault, and brandishing a firearm. Police also searched Fayyad's home and car in search of gang paraphernalia, according to search warrants.

Fayyad has been identified by an FCPD Gang Unit officer as associated with the South Side Locos street gang, according to a police warrant application.

On March 5, Fayyad's alleged victim told police, according to an application for a search of Fayyad's property, the victim went to a Sunoco gas station at 5520 Franconia Road, where he encountered Fayyad. There were already tensions between the two--in 2005, Fayyad was arrested for a separate gang-related, group assault on the victim that required 50 stitches in his head and right leg, according to the warrant application.

Hoping to defuse the tension, the victim offered a greeting to Fayyad. Afterwards,  the victim told police, Fayyad asked the victim if he was "still Crabbing," a derogatory term for being a member of the Crips. According to the victim, Fayyad thinks the victim is a member of the Crips street gang. The victim denied membership in the gang to police.

After accusing the victim of being a Crip, Fayyad allegedly tripped the victim. Fayyad then called the victim "a snitch," before leaving with an unidentified man, according to the warrant application.

Immediately after Fayyad left, the victim and a female friend drove to a 7-Eleven located at 6146 Rose Hill Drive, in the Rose Hill Shopping Center.

As the victim walked towards the 7-Eleven, he told police he heard someone yelling at him. Turning around, the victim said he saw Fayyad leaning out of a black Acura, aiming a gun at him. The victim ran into the 7-Eleven, where the clerk locked the doors and hid the victim. Eventually, the victim left the store and called police.

A Franconia District Station officer who interviewed the victim called an FCPD Gang Unit detective, who said he was familiar with Fayyad and said he was associated with the South Side Locos gang, according to the warrant application.

"Members of South Side Locos and their associates use intimidation, violence, and threats of violence, including murder, assault, and robbery against individuals, including known and suspected members of rival gangs to promote the gang's reputation and climate of fear," the warrant application reads.

The warrant applications were granted, and on March 23, in addition to arresting Fayyad, police searched his Rose Hill house and his car, the black Acura the victim said he saw at the 7-Eleven. According to the warrant, police were looking for items related to gang activity.

In Fayyad's car, police seized two cell phones, miscellaneous documents, and a "baggie of green leafy material" found behind the car's gas cap, according to a post-search inventory. In Fayyad's house, police seized a bandana, other clothing, three cell phones, and electronic equipment.

Fayyad was released on $1,000 bail on March 25. His next hearing is scheduled for May 11.