Arrest made in JMU student slaying

Prince William County police have charged a 17-year-old in the double slayings of a Dale City woman and her teenage son.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul Ebert said Monday that Jean C. Smith, 39, and her son James Smith, 19, were killed during an attempted burglary at their home on Langford Court on Friday afternoon.

The 17-year-old, who lives in the neighborhood, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, burglary and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Neighbors and sources identified the teen as Xavier Pinckney.

His girlfriend, 22-year-old Jacqueline Munoz, has been charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly providing him an alibi, police said.

Ebert said he is seeking to have the murder charges upgraded to capital murder. But he is unable to seek the death penalty due to a Supreme Court ruling banning capital punishment for juveniles.

Police provided a chilling account of what happened in the Smith home on Friday afternoon.

James Smith, home from James Madison University for the holidays, was believed to have been home alone, sleeping on the couch, when the burglar entered the house Friday.

He was shot and killed.

His mother returned home from Hylton High School, where she volunteers with the Hylton choir, and found her son’s body, county police Maj. Ray Colgan said. she’d been at the school taking pictures as choir members sang Christmas carols in the halls.

“She was discovered by the suspect and he shot and killed her,” Colgan said.

Connor Smith, 16, returned home from school Friday about 3 p.m. and found his brother’s body.

Detectives worked 24 hours a day to solve the case, police 1st Sgt. Kim Chinn said. And it was neighbors who led them to the suspect. Officers knocked on doors Sunday afternoon seeking information. By midnight, police had arrested Pinckney.

Colgan said the teenager charged knew the family and had visited their home as a child, though he had not been there in a few years.

Ebert would not say if the teen has a criminal record, but did say he “was known to law enforcement.”

Pinckney will be certified to stand trial as an adult during a court hearing on Jan. 12.

Colgan said police believe he chose the house to burglarize because it looked vacant. There were no cars parked out front.

“This is an extremely tragic case. The victims were civic-minded people,” Colgan said.

Prince William County Supervisor Marty Nohe, a spokesman for the Smith family, said news of an arrest will help the family in their grieving process.

“Knowing that an arrest has been made is a big relief for the family,” he said, adding they are deeply appreciative of the work of the police department.

Police on Monday were searching near the crime scene for further evidence. A command post was set up at the Prince William County Ice Center on Dale Boulevard.