Three Arrests Made in Brenden Wilson's Shooting Death Near Woodbridge High School

As the family and friends of 16-year-old Brenden Wilson gathered Wednesday evening to remember the teenager, police searched for the fourth suspect in his shooting death.

Brenden, a junior at Woodbridge High School, was shot multiple times around 4:30 p.m. Monday along a popular path that students use to cut through to a nearby neighborhood. Investigators have called Brenden's death drug-related, and said he and the suspects knew each other.

Kawain Tyrell Smalls, 20, Kymothy-Tyriq Desean Wilson, 18, and a 17-year-old male were arrested Tuesday in connection with Brenden's death, and police are searching for a fourth suspect, a juvenile.

Smalls has been charged with murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Wilson and the 17-year-old suspect have both been charged with conspiracy to commit a felony.

Brenden's mother, Vikki Wilson Moore, told News4 she doesn't think her son's death had anything to do with drugs.

"Just because they were drug dealers, doesn't mean this was a drug-related crime," Moore said. "I will not have my son's name go out like that."

A vigil was held in Brenden's honor Wednesday evening.

"I want you to remember his smile, how amazing he was and the smiles that he brought and happiness he brought. That's the way I want my son to be remembered," Moore said.

Robert Bennett, a close friend of Brenden's, attended the vigil and said he thought of him as a brother.

"I just basically loved him and it's really sad that somebody actually took his life," Bennett said.

News4's Julie Carey reports Smalls lived in -- and was arrested in -- the same neighborhood that Brenden lived in. There's no word on where Kymothy-Tyriq Wilson and the 17-year-old suspect were taken into custody.

Prince William County Police confirmed Smalls had been arrested Sept. 29 in connection with a robbery in the 12400 block of Hedges Run Drive in Woodbridge. Police say Smalls and three others asked a 17-year-old boy for his phone, then stole it and threatened the teen. Smalls was charged with robbery.

Brenden's mother said a neighbor heard Brenden crying for help before he was shot.

"He was just by himself and he screamed for help and they shot him," Moore said. "They just opened up on him."

Police had been looking for three suspects in connection with the shooting. The three reportedly fled the scene in a pickup truck.

This is the fifth homicide in the county this year.

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