4 Friends of Slain Woodbridge Teen Arrested, Accused of Planning to Rob His Suspected Killer

Four more teens have been arrested in connection with an attempted robbery gone wrong that led to the fatal stabbing of Virginia teen Kenny Joseph Diaz, authorities said.

The four arrested Wednesday were friends with Diaz, police said. Eight other people have also been charged in connection with what became a deadly confrontation between two feuding groups in a Washington, D.C. suburb.

Police say that Diaz, a varsity football player and student at Woodbridge High School, and his group planned to rob Diandra Janae Samuels, 19, in retaliation for a previous armed robbery against one of Diaz's friends.

Diaz's group -- including three of the four teens now charged -- went to Samuels' Woodbridge home Saturday afternoon, where they got into a confrontation with her and her friends.

The crowd dispersed when the situation escalated, but Diaz couldn't get away. Police said Samuels assaulted him and, with the help of friends, forced him into a car and drove him to a park where she stabbed him.

Samuels has been charged with murder, aggravated malicious wounding, abduction, armed robbery and the use of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Diaz was found bleeding from an apparent stab wound to the stomach around 3:15 p.m. Saturday. He died at a local hospital.

"He was really friendly, like I would never see him upset.... He wasn't the person getting in fights," said childhood friend Joaquim Santos. "He was like the average good kid. I wish he was still with me. I wish I could see his face again, talk to him, tell him I miss him."

A funeral mass for Diaz is scheduled for Friday afternoon.

The four teens who were friends with Diaz have been charged with attempted armed robbery, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, and conspiracy to commit a felony.

Police say they were arrested without incident and are being held at the Juvenile Detention Center. They have not been publicly identified because they are minors.

One of the four teens was not present at the encounter at Samuels' home but was still connected to the incident, police said Thursday.

Eight suspects in Diaz's abduction and death (pictured right) are already in custody, including Samuels.

Dominic Glenn Smith, 26, of Woodbridge, allegedly pistol-whipped one of Diaz's friends and was charged with abduction and possession of a firearm.

Four others, all from Woodbridge, were charged with abduction: Deneen Antoinette Williams, 29; Renee Claytor Caples, 22; Teena Marie Gerbozy, 24; and Gregory Allan Bonds, 22.

Stay with News4 and NBCWashington.com for more.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

Contact Us