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JUST IN: Alexandria man charged with December murder of woman in West End

By James Cullum
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A 40-year-old Alexandria man has been charged with the Dec. 7 murder of a woman in the West End.

David Cunningham was charged with the second degree murder of 23-year-old Melia Jones in her apartment in the unit block of South Van Dorn Street. Police have not released how she was killed, and said that Cunningham is being held without bond in the Alexandria jail.

Police found Jones dead in her apartment on Tuesday, Dec. 7 at around 2:40 p.m. Her death was the second homicide of 2021.

The incident is still under investigation, and anyone with information on it is asked to reach out to Detective Michael Whelan at 703-746-6228, or [email protected]. Callers can remain anonymous.

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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.