News

UPDATE: Alexandria man charged with homicide after stabbing at BJ’s Wholesale Club in Landmark area

By James Cullum
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(Updated at 2:30 p.m.) A 33-year-old Alexandria man is in custody after a Maryland man was killed at the BJ’s Wholesale Club in the Landmark area of the West End on Saturday night.

The incident occurred at around 7:45 p.m. Rakibul Fakir was charged with second-degree murder after allegedly stabbing 29-year-old Abiy Zemene to death.

Police said that the suspect and the victim knew each other.

“The adult male suspect remained at the scene until police arrived and was taken into custody without incident,” police said in a news release. “Officers and responding EMS attempted life-saving efforts, however the male was pronounced dead at the scene.”

The BJ’s Wholesale Club is next door to the Van Dorn Plaza shopping mall and near the intersection with Duke Street.

This is the first murder of 2021. There were three murders last year.

Anyone with information on the incident can call Detective C. Escobar at 703-746-6819. Callers may remain anonymous.

About the Author

  • 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.