Woman Dead, Suspect Shot By Police After Barricade Situation: Alexandria Police Chief

ALEXANDRIA, VA – A suspect in a woman's death was shot by Alexandria police officers early Monday morning, the city's police chief announced.

The shooting took place after officers were called to an apartment at 27 Canterbury Square around 4 a.m. following reports that a woman had been shot.

According to Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire, speaking at a press conference around 7:15 a.m., Alexandria police officers arrived at the apartment and found a few family members inside. They were removed from the scene. Officers then saw a suspect down a hallway who was barricaded in a room and believed to be with the victim.

McGuire said officers gave commands to the suspect and continued to engage with him, but the suspect ignored them. The suspect then ran from the room, charging the officers, who both fired at him.

The suspect was given emergency treatment at the scene while officers searched the bedroom, where they found the female victim, McGuire said. She was also given emergency treatment at the scene, but ultimately, both the victim and suspect were declared dead.

The man the officers shot is the APD’s suspect in the death of the woman found at the scene, according to McGuire.

Police would not say whether the man had a weapon when he ran at officers, nor whether a weapon was recovered at the scene. McGuire said the investigation is ongoing.

The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave as the incident is assessed. McGuire said the two have 7 or 8 years of service.

Alexandria police say the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) will investigate the incident. The department's own Office of Professional Responsibility will conduct its own administrative inquiry, which will be monitored by the Office of the Alexandria Independent Policing Auditor, which will also coordinate review of the investigation with the Independent Police Review Board.