18-Year-Old Fatally Shot 2 Teen Boys After Social Media Fight

An 18-year-old boy in Virginia was charged with murder for fatally shooting two teenagers after a social media fight, police said Monday.

Zachary Burkard, of Springfield, was taken into custody Sunday and charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Investigators said after an argument through social media, four teenagers went to a home in Springfield on Sunday afternoon to talk to a person living there. An argument broke out between them at the time. During the fight, Burkard came out of the residence and shot two teens, according to a news release from the Fairfax County police department.

When the police arrived at the residence after getting reports of a shooting, they found one teenager lying in the garage of the house. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Another victim with gunshot wounds to his upper body was found in front of the house. He was taken to a hospital but was pronounced dead later. The autopsies were conducted by the chief medical examiner Monday.

Police said Burkard remained at the scene after the incident. A gun was recovered from him. Investigators are reviewing the social media accounts of the individuals to determine the nature of the dispute.

"The social media back-and-forth occurred before the shooting, but we are still trying to determine if this has been an ongoing thing between these individuals," said Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesperson for Fairfax County Police Department, Washington Post reported.

The officials have not revealed the identities of the victims or their exact age because of their juvenile status. Virginia law prevents law enforcement agencies from revealing the identities of victims without consent from their parents.

Burkard was arraigned Monday. He is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 30.