A 51‑year‑old man from Arlington was taken into custody on July 25 after a basketball game at Gunston Middle School escalated into a shooting that left several teenagers injured. Police say the incident began as a verbal dispute on the court, quickly spiraling into a terrifying scene of gunfire.
According to investigators, Adrian Dwight Taylor got into an argument with other players, left the court, retrieved a handgun from his vehicle, and opened fire toward the players. Witnesses reported hearing multiple shots echo across the gymnasium, startling everyone present.
The Scene of the Shooting
The gunfire struck several minors, some of whom suffered serious injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals for emergency care. Police have not released the exact number of victims, but they confirmed that multiple underage individuals were hit by the stray bullets.
Taylor fled the premises before officers arrived, disappearing into the surrounding neighborhood. He was later apprehended in the Arlington Ridge area, less than a mile from the school, after a brief pursuit and a tip from a local resident.
He now faces nine counts of attempted malicious wounding along with a host of firearms‑related felonies, including shooting on school property, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, reckless discharge of a firearm, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. A judge has ordered him held without bond, and a court date has been set for October 5.
The Arlington County Police Department has described the investigation as active and is urging anyone with additional information or who may have witnessed the incident to come forward. Tips can be submitted through the department’s tip line or the Crime Solvers hotline, and authorities hope that further cooperation will help bring clarity to the case.