BREAKING: Suspect Arrested for West End Murder

Published October 4, 2020 at 1:00PM | Updated October 4, 2020 at 1:19PM

Alexandria Police have arrested a 19-year-old Alexandria man for the murder of John Harding Pope in the West End on Sept. 30.

Tavon Marquis Lanier was arrested on Sunday and charged with second degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony.

Pope, 57, was shot at his home in the 5900 block of Quantrell Avenue in the Mayflower Square apartment complex. He later died at the hospital.

Neighbors reported to ALXnow that one of the suspects was light-skinned and had tattoos on the right side of his face.

This is the second homicide this year in Alexandria. The first homicide occurred a mile-and-a-half away on July 29.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Ryan Clinch at 703-746-6673.

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James Cullum

Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.