Officer-Involved Shooting Investigation: Joseph Anthony Cassell Identified as Deceased in Woodbridge Incident
WOODBRIDGE, VA – Prince William County authorities have officially identified the individual who died during an officer-involved shooting at the Westminster at Lake Ridge Senior Living Home on April 26, 2025. The deceased has been named as 26-year-old Joseph Anthony Cassell. The incident, which has left a community shaken and searching for answers, remains under active investigation by the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT), an independent body tasked with overseeing investigations into critical police incidents.
The tragic events unfolded at approximately 9:58 a.m. when Prince William County police officers responded to a call reporting a male in crisis at the senior living facility, located in the 12100 block of Clipper Drive. According to preliminary information released by the department, Cassell was reportedly armed with a knife and behaving erratically when officers arrived on the scene.
Upon entering the residence, officers encountered Cassell, who allegedly advanced toward them with the weapon. Despite repeated verbal commands to drop the knife, Cassell did not comply, prompting the officers to discharge their service weapons, firing multiple rounds. The situation escalated when Cassell, after the initial confrontation with the officers, allegedly turned his aggression toward a 91-year-old female resident. Officers fired again in an effort to protect the victim.
First aid was immediately rendered by the officers to both Cassell and the elderly woman. Cassell succumbed to his injuries at the scene and was pronounced dead. The female victim, who sustained serious injuries during the encounter, was flown to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment. Authorities have stated that she is expected to recover. Fortunately, no officers were injured during the incident. It was later determined that all individuals involved were related, and another adult female present at the time was unharmed.
In accordance with department policy and best practices, the officers involved have been placed on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. The Prince William County Police Department, under Chief Peter Newsham’s leadership, requested that CIRT handle the investigation independently to ensure transparency and accountability.
The events at Westminster at Lake Ridge have left many in the community grappling with the tragic outcome. Residents and family members have expressed a mix of grief and concern, emphasizing the need for continued mental health support services and crisis intervention measures.
Authorities have promised to release more information as the investigation progresses. The Critical Incident Response Team continues to interview witnesses, review body camera footage, and conduct a comprehensive examination of the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
As the community mourns, Prince William County officials have reiterated their commitment to a thorough, impartial investigation. They have also pledged to support the affected families during this extraordinarily difficult time.
The investigation remains ongoing.