Police: Suspect in Fatal Police Shooting Had Gun
Alexandria police shot and killed a man Monday after responding to a domestic dispute on Duke Street.
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Alexandria police say a man who was shot and killed by officers Monday on Duke Street threatened officers who were responding to a domestic dispute with a gun.
Police spokeswoman Ashley Hildebrandt said police were called to the 3400 block of Duke Street, near the intersection with North Quaker Lane, at approximately 2 p.m. Someone involved in the domestic dispute had called 911, Hildebrandt said.
Hildebrand said she did not know what officers encountered when they arrived on the scene but that the man had a gun.
“That’s what we’re looking into,” she said. “They did encounter a suspect with a weapon, and that resulted in a fatal police-involved shooting, but more than that is under investigation.”
Also, the department’s Criminal Investigations Section and Internal Investigations Unit are conducting investigations into the shooting.
Melinda Fields Sigal, a West End resident who was picking up a friend in the area shortly after 1:30 p.m., said she saw police with guns drawn near an apartment or condominium complex on Duke Street. She told Patch she heard multiple shots fired.
“You could tell there was a lot of panic in the air,” Sigal said. “You could tell the police were trying to protect everyone.”
Sigal said she had just picked up her friend, Marshall Love, when he suddenly said, “Look at all the cops.” She said she saw police ready to fire.
Love, a resident of Temple Hills, Md., who was conducting business Monday in Alexandria, said he saw eight to 10 officers on the scene with guns drawn, including one officer with what appeared to be a rifle. He said he saw a woman try to walk toward the suspect and an officer with a shield that prevented her from entering the scene of the standoff.
“A person dropped the shield and then ran to the scene to restrain her,” Love said. “She was passionate about trying to get to the suspect, but couldn’t.”
Love said he saw the suspect fire a gun. Multiple officers returned fire, he said.
Hildebrandt said police are investigating whether the suspect fired a shot. No arrests were made on the scene, she said.
The incident occurred near the intersection with Arell Court, near Sunrise of Alexandria, a home for seniors. Duke Street remained shut down in both directions through Monday night.
Per departmental policy, the officers involved in the shooting have been put on administrative leave with pay during the investigation, according to the police department. Anyone who witnessed or has information regarding the incident is asked to call the Alexandria Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Section at 703-746-6711.
Jimmy
11:41 am on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
And yet Police make it seem the "suspect" fired multiple shots at Alexandria Police , If Alexandria Police doesn't find a single bullet from the suspect's gun then he/she will be the one accused of killing a innocent person. Now I for one will then think an Alexandria Police had a killed an innocent bystander ...
A. Chapman
4:20 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
What are you babbling about? The article specifically says, "Hildebrandt [the police spokesperson] said police are investigating whether the suspect fired a shot." Nothing says the police are acting like the suspect fired multiple shots at them.
And FYI, even if the police find no bullet from the gun, that means NOTHING -- if the suspect pointed the gun at an officer or another person, then the police are legally permitted to shoot. They don't have to wait until a shot is fired by the suspect and hope it doesn't hit anyone. Suspect draws and aims a gun, the police will fire -- it's that simple.
Unless you're on the side of criminals.
Justaskin
1:44 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Well, one would certainly hope that the deceased had a gun, considering all the shots that were fired by the police.
A. Chapman
4:22 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
The fact that so many cops independently decided to fire at about the same time tells me that they all saw the same threat -- so it's pretty likely the guy had a gun. Plus, the witness in the article says so.
matt tallmerq
4:56 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Please read the article before you comment. The following is copied directly from the article above: "Love said he saw the suspect fire a gun. Multiple officers returned fire . . " Any further questions about whether the suspect had a gun and fired at APD?
Justaskin
8:28 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
No further questions once the gun is recovered (which it was according to the police).
Kenya Green
5:38 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Overkill is overkill! Sorry that I'm a skeptic but so many officers abuse their power that u just have to be.....smh
Doug
10:47 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
What do you suggest then? That the APD fires one shot and then waits to see if it is effective? Let's assume the worst: the shot misses the guy and he has the chance to fire his gun and he shoots a APD officer or a civilian nearby. Would that be ok? Obviously you would answer "no". Therefore the police must act in a way that best provides for the safety of all others. That is what we pay them for.
Think too about the emotions of every police offer that was there that day. Do you think they took this lightly before it happened? How about after?
Actually, think about every police officer every where who every day goes to work not knowing if they will need to take another person's life or possibly lose their own.
My comments are not directed just at Kenya Green. They are directed at every one of you who spouted off an opinion about this, somehow, being the APD's fault as this story was breaking. You should be ashamed of yourselves. The APD is here to protect us. As someone who has needed them in the past I am grateful for what they do to protect our city, my family and me.
Justaskin
4:07 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
There were many shots fired by multiple officers. Police departments routinely tell the press how many officers were placed on administrative leave after an incident of this kind. Why not now?
Kenya Green
1:31 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
Excuse me Doug, but again I said I am a skeptic! IF he was firing at the police, of course they have to defend themselves. They too may have families at home, but my point is I don't trust the police or what they say. I don't care what their spokesperson said because she too is employed by APD. And I've heard more than 1 version of the story so Im not sure who to believe. Sure some police are honest but I personally believe the bad ones outweigh the good. MY opinion, point blank and period! So ANYTIME someone of any race is shot and killed by an officer, I question if deadly force was necessary AND if they used it in excess! Maybe it was justified, but I don't just hear their side and take it as gospel.....
matt tallmerq
1:41 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
APD never tells anyone anything about crimes or attempted crimes. There was an entire series about that in the Gazette Packet some years back.
Charles Holland Sr
2:13 pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013
There's no reason for Police to shoot anyone that many times overkill, But the truth will be revealed .
Dave
3:42 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
What is the acceptable amount of times to shoot someone who aims a gun at you, a coworker, or a citizen? If I was a cop and someone raised a gun at me or my coworker or a citizen, do you really think there's a maximum amount of times I should be allowed to pull the trigger to defend us or the public?! Your friend had his chance and made his choice.
What is "the truth"? Why not reveal it to us now?
Jaime williams
9:08 am on Sunday, February 24, 2013
The truth will be revealed and Taft was not a criminal, he served our country!!!!!!!! I personaly knew him and he went over there to stop is sister from beating his grandmothers ass!! so stop with the maddness!! point blank this shit is shady!!!
Dave
3:25 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
What was "the truth"? Why not reveal it to us now?
concerned citizen
7:34 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
I witnessed part of this incident. I was driving East on Duke street and was stopped at the light directly in front of the scene, with a clear view to an black male sitting and leaning to his right inside the brick stairwell where it meets the parking lot. It looked almost as if he had a blanket around him. At this time, there were 4 APD officers (all caucasian) with their guns aimed at suspect. It was all very relaxed, one officer was digging his feet in the dirt behind his car to prop his firing stance, was taking his time and attention off the suspect and acting in a casual manner, fully exposing himself to suspect. Several other officers were intermittently sighting the suspect with guns and then looking away and moving around. The suspect was in no way threatening anyone at this time. He was simply sitting in the stairwell. He wasn't making any moves to surrender either. My thoughts at the time "Oh my, they are going to shoot that guy" It was disturbing, nobody was trying to communicate with the suspect. I considered remaining, even capturing this on my phone, but light changed and LE vehicles with lights on were approaching from behind me fast and an unmarked black sedan was heading in westbound on Duke. I left prior to the gunfire, and not sure how long after I left it occurred. It's possible it may have been suicide by police. I had a clear view of suspect, he had no unconcealed weapon at that time. I swear this is 100% factual.