Two women found shot, dead in Manassas apartment during welfare check

MANASSAS, Va. - The man accused of murdering two women inside a Manassas apartment, officials say, was caught Tuesday trying to skip town. 

Detectives with the Prince William County Police Department believe 36-year-old Edward James Jackson Bland shot and killed 34-year-old Leann Renee Harris and 22-year-old Asia Payne at the Westgate Apartments and Townhomes on Porter Ridge Lane. 

Edward James Jackson Bland, 36

Just before 1 a.m. Tuesday morning, officers were sent to the community after someone called the department reporting a man with a gun. 

Around the same time, a 61-year-old man contacted authorities after Bland allegedly carjacked his vehicle at gunpoint. The victim was unharmed during the incident. 

Bland didn't make it far. Several hours later, officers received information from law enforcement in Shenandoah County that a man, later identified as Bland, was being detained in their jurisdiction after his vehicle had reportedly stopped working in the area of I-66 and I-81. 

Bland had walked to a nearby convenience store where authorities were notified that the vehicle he was driving was confirmed stolen from Prince William County. 

During the investigation, detectives gathered additional information that prompted them to conduct a welfare check at the Westgate Apartments and Townhomes. When they arrived, they found Harris and Payne suffering from upper-body gunshot wounds.

Detectives believe the victims and the accused knew each other. Bland is now facing a slew of charges, including two counts of murder, one count of carjacking, and three counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. 

He remains in custody in Shenandoah County. 

This is a developing story. Check back with FOX 5 for updates.