Welcome to Friday, Alexandria. Here’s a look at the top stories of the week.
ALXnow’s top story this week is on the man who was struck by a train at the Potomac Yard Metro station on September 22 and later died at George Washington University Hospital. Metro Transit Police stated at the time that the man had trespassed onto the tracks, and an investigation revealed that he was being chased by two alleged fare evaders: a 17-year-old female and an 18-year-old female, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.
The incident occurred at around 3:15 p.m., after the man walked through the fare gates, and then forced the gates behind him to close so that he would not be followed. The man who was later struck was then chased and followed into a Metro train and back to the platform where the teenagers were both recorded by video surveillance “physically striking the victim,” according to the search warrant affidavit.
MTP would not comment on the ongoing investigation.
The second most-read story this week concerns the Alexandria Police Department’s investigation into an employee at a popular Del Ray bistro who allegedly recorded customers using the bathroom on Saturday, September 20.
Karim Mashmour, the owner of Gustave Boulangerie & Brasserie (2213 Mount Vernon Avenue), stated that the employee was suspended pending the outcome of the APD’s investigation, which police reported was ongoing, and that no charges have been filed.
Police were called at around 3:30 p.m. on September 20 by a customer who reported that she and her daughter had used an employee restroom at the restaurant, as the public restroom was occupied, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit. The mother told police that she saw the cabinet doors of the bathroom vanity cracked open, and that she opened the vanity to find a phone propped up on a roll of toilet paper.
The employee was briefly detained by police and admitted to placing the phone in the bathroom for the “purposes of recording himself performing sexual acts to later send to his girlfriend who resides in the Philippines,” according to the search warrant affidavit. Taking nude photos or video of a non-consenting person in Virginia is a Class 1 misdemeanor, unless it is of a minor, then it is a Class 6 felony.
On October 1, Mashmour sent ALXnow the following message:
We would like to sincerely thank everyone who came today and showed their support for our business. In this difficult time, your kindness reminds us that we are not alone. From the very first day, Del Ray has welcomed us as part of the community, which makes this situation all the more heartbreaking.
We want to assure our community that we are fully cooperating with the Alexandria Police Department. In addition, we have already taken stronger measures, including a stricter hiring process, to ensure that this will never happen again.
Transparency and trust are essential to us. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please reach out at [email protected] or stop by to speak with us in person at Gustave.
Thank you once again for standing with us. Your support means more than words can express.
ALXnow’s third top story is on the arrest of three suspects in connection with the September 19 shooting death of Jaylin Hartless in the Woodlawn area of Fairfax County.
The 21-year-old Hartless was found shot by his vehicle in the 3400 block of Buckman Road at around 4:45 a.m. and died at the scene. Following information relayed via the Fairfax County Police Department’s Crime Solvers tip line, detectives arrested Tavon Ferguson, 31, from the city of Alexandria, Tennida Ferguson, 49, of the Alexandria area of Fairfax County, and Tavon Lang, 32, also from the Alexandria area of Fairfax County.
Hartless’s family launched a GoFundMe to cover funeral expenses, and it has so far raised more than $18,000.
The 30th annual Art on the Avenue is taking place this Saturday in Del Ray. The annual festival attracts hundreds of juried artists showcasing sellable art on Mount Vernon Avenue, with thousands of attendees expected.
If you’re looking for more to do in Alexandria this weekend, don’t miss ALXnow’s comprehensive listing of weekend events.
The most-read stories this week were:
- Man struck by train at Potomac Yard Metro dies, was being chased (50828 views)
- Del Ray restaurant employee suspended after customer reports hidden bathroom camera (25238 views)
- Three suspects arrested for the murder of an Alexandria man in Fairfax County (12535 views)
- Alexandria restaurants offering ‘furlough freebies’ to impacted federal employees (11883 views)
- Alexandria School Board opposes DASH proposal for high school students (4885 views)
- Patrick Garrity, longtime Alexandria realtor and St. Patrick’s Day Parade organizer, dies at 63 (4575 views)
- Alexandria moves forward with next phase of Confederate street renamings (4026 views)
Have a safe weekend!
