A third employee survived the Manassas shooting before the suspected gunman was located more than 100 miles away on Interstate 81.
MANASSAS, Va. — Two employees were killed and a third was wounded Sept. 30 after a co-worker opened fire at an equipment rental business in Manassas, police said. The suspected gunman later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a pursuit and standoff with Virginia State Police.
Police identified the suspected shooter as Marvin Grant, 37, of Charlotte, North Carolina, an employee at the United Rentals facility on Wellington Road. Authorities said Grant left the business before officers arrived, triggering a search that stretched from Northern Virginia to Augusta County. Investigators had not established a motive as of Thursday, and police said they were continuing to examine what happened before the shooting.
Manassas police said they received the shooting call at 7:11 a.m. Officers from the Manassas City Police Department and Prince William County Sheriff’s Office arrived about three minutes later and found three wounded employees. Emergency medical aid was provided before all three men were taken to hospitals. Two later died. Police said the surviving employee was in stable condition and was expected to survive.
The two employees who died were identified in reports as Christopher Serrano, 33, and a 48-year-old co-worker. Public reports differed on the form and spelling of the second victim’s name, with some identifying him as Richard Lamont and others as Ricky Lamot. Authorities had not publicly identified the surviving employee in the latest reports reviewed Thursday.
Manassas Police Chief Douglas Keen said investigators believe some type of altercation occurred before the shooting. Keen said Grant made a statement to another employee indicating that three people were going to die before pulling a handgun and shooting three co-workers. Police have not publicly explained what led to the confrontation, and the alleged statement has not established a motive for the attack.
Grant fled in a Toyota before officers reached the business, police said. Investigators used information from his cellphone to track his movements toward the Harrisonburg area and alerted Virginia State Police. State police said a trooper later spotted the vehicle traveling south on Interstate 81 in Augusta County, more than 100 miles from the Manassas shooting scene.
According to Virginia State Police, Grant drove into a rest area near mile marker 232, where troopers attempted to stop him. Police said he briefly got out of the vehicle, returned to it and continued south, prompting a pursuit. The vehicle eventually stopped near mile marker 227, where Grant got out while armed. A tactical team and negotiator were called to the scene.
State police said Grant suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound at about 10:30 a.m. He was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead. Virginia State Police said troopers did not use force during the encounter. The response temporarily affected traffic along Interstate 81 while authorities handled the standoff and investigation.
The shooting also prompted security measures near the United Rentals facility. Police initially advised people in the surrounding area to remain indoors while Grant’s location was unknown. Jennie Dean Elementary School, located nearby, was placed under heightened security precautions. Those restrictions were later lifted after authorities determined Grant had left the Manassas area.
United Rentals said it was cooperating with law enforcement and supporting employees affected by the shooting. Investigators continued reviewing the circumstances surrounding the workplace violence Thursday, including events before the gunfire and any available surveillance evidence. Police had not announced a confirmed motive, and the surviving employee remained reported in stable condition.
Author note: Last updated October 1, 2026.