1 dead, 1 hurt in murder, suicide attempt

By Elisa Glushefski

Published: July 31, 2008

A woman is dead and a man is hospitalized with apparent knife wounds following a murder and an attempted suicide at a Georgetown South town house in Manassas on Thursday afternoon.

City police were called to 9613 Aspen Place at about 12:21 p.m. and found 44-year-old Chantie Brooks dead from apparent knife wounds and 53-year-old Mikuel Gaskins suffering from stab wounds, said police spokesman Sgt. Tim Neumann.

Gaskins was airlifted to a regional hospital and was in surgery by mid-afternoon, Neumann said. His condition was not available at deadline.

Brooks and Gaskins shared the town house and were in a relationship, said police. They were discovered in an upstairs bedroom by two of Gaskins' relatives who became worried after repeated attempts to reach Gaskins on his cell phone and went to check on him.

A neighbor saw a woman and daughter knocking on the door and the three were able to enter the house after the daughter climbed through an unlocked window and let in the other two, according to the witness and police.

The neighbor, a 32-year-old woman who declined to give her name, described a gory scene with blood covering floors throughout the downstairs and upstairs.

Gaskins' relatives told police that he had been upset lately, Neumann said.

Gaskins was found lying on the floor, she said, and Brooks was in the bed.

Grieving family members of Brooks gathered in the cul-de-sac parking lot outside the town house. The family did not wish to comment for the story.

The town house was cordoned off as detectives collected evidence through the evening. Police said it does not appear that anyone else was involved.

Police are still investigating who initiated the attack. No further information was available at deadline.

Staff writer Elisa Glushefski can be reached at 703-878-8062.