Arlington County police are investigating a police-involved shooting in Rosslyn.
The shooting happened near the intersection of N. Lynn Street and 19th Street N. around 11:30 a.m.
An Metro Transit Police officer shot and seriously wounded a man initially described as a carjacking suspect, who was rushed to a local hospital, ACPD said. Roads were closed in the area as police conducted their investigation; all but 19th Street N. were back open as of 3 p.m.
Video from just before the shooting viewed by ARLnow shows a person running up to at least 2-3 cars along N. Lynn Street while being followed by an officer on foot. On two occasions, the person lies on the ground, but then gets up and starts running.
The shooting happened along 19th Street N., near a loading dock and a parking garage entrance. A large amount of dried blood could be seen on the roped-off portion of sidewalk, next to medical equipment.
In a press conference early Friday afternoon, Metro Transit Police Chief Mike Anzallo said the officer was on patrol in the area and happened upon the first alleged carjacking attempt. The officer pursued and confronted the suspect, then shot him after another vehicle theft attempt on 19th Street N. near N. Kent Street, Anzallo said.
A witness told ARLnow that the suspect tried to steal a garbage truck that could be seen next to the shooting scene.
“The officer is a little shaken up, but he’s doing well,” Anzallo said. “He has a lot of blood on his clothing”
No one else was injured.
Arlington County police are handling the investigation and are still trying to determine whether the suspect had a weapon, ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage said at the press conference. The officer who fired the shot has been placed on administrative leave, according to Metro Transit Police.
ACPD issued the following press release about the incident Friday night, noting that the incident began with the suspect trying to enter cars being driven on Fort Myer Drive.
On the suspect’s second attempt, he “opened the back door, entered the vehicle and began yelling at the driver who subsequently exited their vehicle,” at which point the officer came across the incident and started to intervene. The officer struggled with and pursued the suspect, using pepper spray and ultimately shooting him after he entered “a running, unoccupied trash truck” on N. Kent Street, according to the press release.
The Arlington County Police Department is investigating a Metro Transit Police officer-involved shooting following a series of vehicle-related offenses in the Rosslyn neighborhood.
The preliminary investigation indicates just prior to 11:30 a.m. on July 5, the adult male suspect approached an occupied vehicle at 19th Street N. and Fort Myer Drive and unsuccessfully attempted to open the vehicle’s door by pulling on the door handle before the driver drove away. The suspect continued walking along Fort Myer Drive, approached a second, unrelated, occupied vehicle, opened the back door, entered the vehicle and began yelling at the driver who subsequently exited their vehicle. A Metro Transit Police officer observed the incident and gave the suspect commands to exit the vehicle. After the suspect exited, a struggle ensued as the officer attempted to take the suspect into custody, during which the suspect fled the scene on foot.
A foot pursuit was initiated, during which Metro Transit Police deployed pepper spray. The suspect continued to flee on foot and entered a running, unoccupied trash truck at N. Kent Street and 19th Street N. A Metro Transit Police officer gave the suspect commands to exit and the suspect remained inside the vehicle. The officer then discharged their firearm, striking the suspect. Metro Transit Police immediately began lifesaving measures before medics transported the suspect to an area hospital. The suspect remains hospitalized in stable condition.
There are no outstanding suspects and no ongoing threat to the community related to this incident.
This remains an active criminal investigation. The preliminary investigation indicates the suspect may have attempted to enter additional vehicles. Anyone whose vehicle may have been entered or who has additional information related to this incident is asked to contact the Arlington County Police Department’s Tip Line at 703-228-4180 or ACPDTipline@arlingtonva.us. Information may also be reported anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).
The press release notably does not describe any of the incidents — some seen in traffic camera video, below, compiled by local public safety watcher Dave Statter — as a carjacking.
NEW: Here's video from Arlington County traffic-cams showing what occurred prior to the shooting this morning by a Metro Transit Police Department officer in Rosslyn, VA. The first scene is near N. 19th St. and N. Ft. Myer Dr. You see a man getting out of the passenger side of an… pic.twitter.com/yYokuPJICP
— Dave Statter (@STATter911) July 5, 2024