T.C. Williams Student Charged In Southern VA Double Homicide

ALEXANDRIA, VA — A T.C. Williams High School student was arrested by Virginia State Police Thursday in relation to the killings of two people near the Virginia-North Carolina border.

Mohamed Aly, 18, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

The arrest came after police found Ntombo Joel Bianda, 21, of Alexandria, and Ayanna Munne Maertens Griffin, 19, of Germantown, Maryland, dead on Route 58 in Halifax County early Saturday. The vehicle was stopped in a median with the bodies outside the vehicle. Further investigation revealed the deaths were not a result of the vehicle running off the road onto the median.

Police said that part of Route 58 (Philpott Road) in Turbeville is isolated and not heavily traveled during overnight hours. Relatives told NBC4 the two victims were picking up a friend in Danville.

T.C. Williams Principal Peter Balas informed families in a letter of the arrest Thursday:

We are writing to inform you that a T.C. Williams High School student was arrested today for his alleged involvement in a crime that occurred outside of the City of Alexandria and our community. We are complying with authorities as they conduct their ongoing investigation, and we are referring all questions to Virginia State Police. It is ACPS policy to not comment on an active police investigation.

This situation was handled today according to protocol, and the safety and security of our students and staff were never at risk. Protecting members of our school community is always our top priority, and we take any matter relating to the safety of our schools very seriously. As a precautionary measure, additional security will be in place at the school tomorrow.

We should expect that there will be a variety of reactions to what has occurred, and the most important thing we can do is to be supportive and encourage an open expression of emotions. Counselors will be available for students and staff members at the school over the next few days. We encourage your child to reach out for support as needed.

We will be monitoring students carefully over the next few weeks. If you feel that your child or family needs assistance, please contact the school administration at 703-824-6800, and we will do everything we can to help you.