A 34-year-old Woodbridge man who taught at a private elementary school is facing a misdemeanor charge after police say he assaulted a 7-year-old student during class, leaving the child with minor injuries. Prince William County police arrested Shaanan Josiah Burrell on Friday and charged him with assault and battery, three days after the alleged incident unfolded inside a classroom.
According to FOX 5 DC, the teacher was fired from his position following the allegations that he assaulted the young student. The arrest stems from an incident that occurred on October 13 at approximately 12:40 p.m., when Burrell allegedly assaulted the boy during class, according to WUSA9. Police were dispatched to investigate the following day, October 14, after receiving a report about the alleged assault.
School Says It Acted Immediately
The incident took place at Prince William Academy, a private school on Commission Court in Woodbridge that serves students from infancy through middle school. Executive Director Guye Turner said that as soon as the school received a report concerning Burrell's interaction with the 7-year-old, administrators terminated his employment and notified the child's family, per reporting from Patch. The school, founded in 1986, is accredited by the Virginia Council for Private Education, Cognia, SAIS, and NAEYC, and it is not part of Prince William County Public Schools.
Burrell was booked and released on his own recognizance after his arrest Friday, with no initial court date immediately scheduled, the same outlet reported. That arrangement allows him to remain free without posting bail while the case moves through the system. The specific classroom circumstances that led to the reported injuries have not been detailed publicly, and it remains unclear when Burrell will next appear in court.
What Virginia Law Says About the Charge
Burrell faces a Class 1 misdemeanor under Virginia Code § 18.2-57, the state's general assault and battery statute, which carries a maximum penalty of 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine. Virginia law defines battery as any willful, non-consensual physical contact carried out in a rude or angry manner. As with any pending criminal matter, the charge remains an allegation that Burrell is entitled to contest in court.
Separately, Virginia Code § 63.2-1509 requires both public and private school employees who suspect child abuse or neglect to report it to local social services or the state's child abuse hotline immediately, and no later than 24 hours after becoming aware of it. Failing to meet that reporting window can bring administrative fines of up to $500 or, in more serious cases, misdemeanor charges of its own.
Part of a Recurring Pattern in Prince William County
This is not the first time a Prince William County-area educator has faced criminal charges over an alleged physical altercation with a student. In December 2023, a 60-year-old teacher at Marshall Elementary School in Manassas was arrested and charged with assault and battery after an alleged assault on a 9-year-old girl. The previous October, a 61-year-old teacher at Beville Middle School in Woodbridge was placed on administrative leave and charged after allegedly grabbing an 11-year-old student by the neck in the school cafeteria, according to FOX 5 DC. And in February 2022, a teacher at Fred Lynn Middle School was charged with assault and battery for allegedly spitting on a 14-year-old student who was undergoing a mental health crisis while staff restrained the child, in a case that triggered a joint investigation by police and Child Protective Services.
Hoodline has also reported on charges against Woodbridge school staff tied to a separate child-safety incident this month.
