Manassas-area man charged in Fairfax stabbing

By Elisa Glushefski

Published: May 6, 2008

A Manassas-area man wanted in connection with a fatal stabbing in Fairfax County last week was captured in Washington, D.C., this week and is awaiting extradition, authorities said.

Following what police described as an “exhaustive” search, members of the U.S. Marshals Service on Monday arrested 21-year-old Joshua S. Puryear of 8645 Lenfant Place, Fairfax County police said.

A police spokesman said Puryear is being held in the District on a fugitive from justice charge.

Once extradited, he will be charged with murder, said Fairfax Officer Eddy Azcarate.

Around 4 a.m. April 27, a fight broke out between two large groups of people in the 3700 block of Powell Lane, a small residential road off Old Columbia Pike in the Falls Church area, Azcarate said.

Officers found 18-year-old Harbi Adam from Falls Church and an unidentified 20-year-old Annandale-area man stabbed, police said.

Both were transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Adam was pronounced dead at the hospital. Police said the 20-year-old was last reported to be recovering.

Authorities are still investigating what sparked the incident, which Azcarate said involved at least a dozen people.

Adam’s death marked the seventh homicide in Fairfax County this year.

Potoamc News and Manassas Journal Messenger staff writer Elisa Glushefski can be reached at 703-878-8062.