Community Raises $15K For Family Of Slain Teen

CENTREVILLE, VA — The friends and community have rallied around the family of Matthew Brian Ortega, a 17-year-old homicide victim whose body was found last week lying on a Centreville street. A GoFundMe page dedicated to the teen, who was a junior at Centreville High School, has raised more than $15,000, exceeding the goal of $13,000.

The Fairfax County police are investigating the homicide, but have released few details. They said that Ortega died of trauma to the upper body; autopsy results are pending.

At about 5:15 a.m. on Feb. 14, a delivery driver found his body lying in the 13000 block of Jeb Stuart Square, and paramedics pronounced the 17-year-old dead at the scene.

The police identified Matthew after releasing a photo last week of a sweatshirt he was wearing, which had a snake and skull emblem.

The GoFundMe page was set up last week to help the Ortega family with funeral and other expenses. As of Wednesday, it had raised $15,441 in donations from 215 people.

Many donors were parents of Centreville High students and teachers who shared their memories of the teenager. "I remember Matthew as a sweet and reserved young boy," his third grade teacher wrote. "I am praying for his family, friends, and classmates."

In a letter to parents last week, Dave Jagels, the principal of Centreville High School, extended his condolences to Matthew's family and friends and said the school will offer grief counseling, WJLA-TV Channel 7 reported.

If anyone has information about this incident, they should contact the Police Department's Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800. You can also contact Crime Solvers:

• visit http://www.fairfaxcrimesolvers...
• text-a-tip by texting “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES (274637)
• call 1-866-411-TIPS (8477)
• or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131

Image: Matthew Brian Ortega (GoFundMe)