Son allegedly pistol-whips dad over trash dispute in West End apartment

An 16-year-old Alexandrian is in custody after allegedly pistol-whipping his father over a fight about taking out the trash.

The incident occurred at around 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 30, at an apartment in the 3300 block of S. 28th Street in the West End. After the incident, police received a call from the father, who reported that the argument was sparked when he told his son to take out the trash.

“His son became angry and began yelling,” police said in a search warrant affidavit. “His son then pulled out a black gun, possibly a Glock, from his waistband and pointed it at his father… (The father) said his son… shouted that he was going to kill him, racked the slide of the gun, pointed it at his father’s upper stomach/chest area, and pulled the trigger.”

The gun misfired, the father told police.

“(The son) became frustrated that it did not fire and then hit his father in the back/side of the head with the butt of the gun,” police said in the search warrant affidavit. “(The father) also advised that his son is on probation for an armed robbery (with a firearm) of sneakers.”

The son’s mother was also in the room, and disputed the account. She told police that the father was “egging” on their son and that she saw a black object being pointed at the father, but said it was not a gun, according to the search warrant affidavit.

The father told police that his partner was lying to protect their son, but “he was not going to let someone try to kill him then hit him with a gun and not tell the truth,” police said in the search warrant affidavit.

The suspect and his mother missed an appointment with police to turn him in on August 2. Warrants were then issued for the juvenile suspect for attempted malicious wounding, possession of a firearm by a minor, possession of a firearm by a felon and use of a firearm in commission of a felony.

The 16-year-old was eventually apprehended, and is now in custody in the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center. Alexandria Police could not release any further information on his status.

The Alexandria Sexual Assault Center and Domestic Violence Program is available 24/7 to listen and help at 703-746-4911.

“If you are a neighbor and know that an abusive incident is occurring, call the police immediately,” the city said. “Calling the police is simply the most effective way to protect the victim and children from immediate harm.”

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