Alexandria Police ID Victim in Lynhaven Shooting

Julian Dawkins, 22, was pronounced dead at a hospital early Wednesday.

Alexandria police have identified the victim in Wednesday morning's suspicious death in Lynhaven as 22-year-old city resident Julian Dawkins. • See: Police Interviewing Arlington Sheriff's Deputy in Suspicious Death Case At 12:45 a.m. Wednesday, officers responded to reports of a person being shot in the 100 block of Lynhaven Drive. Police quickly located the male victim, who was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to a release from the Alexandria Police Department.   Police said they have questioned Arlington County Sheriff’s Deputy Craig Patterson, 44, who was involved in the shooting. Patterson, a 17-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, is also an Alexandria resident, police said. He has been placed …

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Drew Hansen

12:06 pm on Thursday, May 23, 2013

A comment was deleted for violating our terms of use. I am suspending comments on this story. Have a question? Email me at drewh@patch.com.   more ›

2013 Hurricane Season: Potential Flooding, Power Outages On Tap This Summer

Dominion offers hurricane season 2013 preparedness tips.

Hurricanes and severe storms are a part of summertime in Northern Virginia and experts predict that this year's season could yield four major hurricanes this year in the Atlantic in the 2013 season. Although summer doesn't officially begin until late June, Dominion Virginia Power is telling customers now that it's prepared for the June 1 start of hurricane season and urging customers to do the same. National Hurricane Preparedness Week begins next week. Read: Experts Make Predictions for 2013 Hurricane Season The company says it works year-round with state and local authorities to make sure it can respond quickly to the extensive damage that major storms, especially hurricanes, can cause. As the start of hurricane season approaches, …

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How You Can Help Oklahoma Tornado Victims

Monster storm flattened Oklahoma City suburb of Moore Monday afternoon, where dozens are reported dead.

Updated: Police Interviewing Arlington Sheriff's Deputy in Suspicious Death Case

Alexandria police respond to reports of a shooting early Wednesday morning in Lynhaven.

1:30 p.m. update — Alexandria police have officially identified the victim as 22-year-old city resident Julian Dawkins. An investigation is ongoing. More on Patch: Alexandria Police ID Victim in Lynhaven Shooting — — — — 11:15 a.m. update — The victim in Wednesday morning's incident is being identified as Julian Dawkins, according to WNEW. According to the report, there's a dispute as to whether an altercation occurred: The victim’s mother, Gwen Pratt Miller, identifies the man as Julian Dawkins. Dawkins is the cousin of Washington Mystics guard Tierra Ruffin-Pratt. He was among a group of people that had gone out earlier that evening to celebrate Ruffin-Pratt making the team, the family says. Contrary to police statements, a woman who …

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Letter to the Editor: A New Jefferson-Houston Building Will Not Bury the Problems that Remain

Former West Old Town Citizens Association President Leslie Zupan says the school system must be more accountable.

This week Alexandria’s elected officials past and present presided over the groundbreaking for the new $45 million Jefferson-Houston School. Turning over earth will not bury the serious problems that remain. ACPS continues to dodge questions regarding academics, capacity projections, and the future of PK-8 school transformations. Fifteen years of test data confirms the new school building is little more than a token gesture. The School Board and its enablers disclaim responsibility for their collective social policies -- policies which amount to little more than protecting Alexandria's wealthiest schools. The technique is now polished: blame white parents for alleged racism because they continue to avoid the failing Jefferson-Houston …

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Lee Hernly

11:21 am on Wednesday, May 22, 2013

While I agree with the commenters and the writer on their comments, I do suggest that, if you have not done so already, do take a tour of the school to see the changes taking place. It's hard to see how the kids can learn anything there at the school given the current open classroom environment. Having lived here all my life, I seem to recall as well that at one point in time, Lyles Crouch was in…   more ›

SunTrust Bank on Duke Street Robbed Tuesday Afternoon

Police: Man implied he had a weapon.

The SunTrust Bank at 3101 Duke St. in Alexandria in the Alexandria Commons shopping center was robbed Tuesday afternoon of an undisclosed amount of money, according to Alexandria Police. A man walked into the bank at about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday and asked to use the restroom, said Alexandria Police spokeswoman Ashley Hildebrandt. After coming out of the restroom he walked up to a teller and implied he had a weapon, she said. He fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspect is described as a black male, about six feet tall wearing dark pants and a dark shirt, Hildebrandt said. It's the first time "in recent memory" that the bank "has been hit," she said. No one was hurt in the incident.  The bank is close to Bishop Ireton High …

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James Dunning

11:59 pm on Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Kim-- Were you this concerned about the "fear and trauma" of the DEAD PEOPLE IN BENGHAZI that suffered under YOUR PRESIDENT? Talk about WOW. It make me sad that you have computer :( Hippocrite.   more ›

Speak Out: VA Dems Say GOP Ticket Is Anti-Gay, Bad for Business

Democratic leaders and gay advocates are slamming the Virginia Republican Party's ticket — Ken Cuccinelli for governor and E.W. Jackson for lieutenant governor. Do you agree with them?

Democratic Party Chair of Virginia Charniele Herring, state Sen. Adam Ebbin and gay-rights advocate James Parrish held a teleconference Tuesday afternoon lambasting the “dangerous and hateful attacks on gay and lesbian Virginians that Republican candidates Ken Cuccinelli and E.W. Jackson have made a centerpiece of their careers.” Herring asked why an employer would want to bring business to the commonwealth when gubernatorial candidate Cuccinelli and lieutenant governor candidate Jackson “demonize” gay employees. “It’s damaging to our commonwealth’s reputation as an inclusive place to live,” she said. Jackson has labeled gay people perverted and “frankly very sick people psychologically, mentally and emotionally,” according to the …

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Grand Jury Indicts Johnson in Del Ray Murder Case

Marie Maybell Johnson is facing charges of murder, attempted arson and destruction of property.

A circuit court grand jury has indicted Marie Maybell Johnson in the murder of 94-year-old Del Ray resident Elmer Roehrs.  Commonwealth’s Attorney Randy Sengel said his office presented its case against Johnson to the grand jury during its regular session on Monday. Johnson, 45, is facing charges of murder, attempted arson and destruction of property. • Interested in getting Del Ray Patch directly into your inbox each morning? Learn more about our daily newsletter. Roehrs was found dead in his Holly Street home on Feb. 13. The case was initially investigated as a suspicious death. It was later classified as a murder following the results of an autopsy.  The incident marked the first homicide in Alexandria since October 2011. Once a warrant…

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