News

UPDATE: Man found in West End after Alexandria Police issue Critical Missing Person Alert

By James Cullum

Updated at 12:30 p.m. Peter Edwards was found safe at an auto shop in the 400 block of S. Van Dorn Street.

Alexandria Police combed the West End for the missing 44-year-old man with severe intellectual disabilities.

Police said that Edwards was last seen at around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night in the 600 block of Shilling Street, which is near the Van Dorn Metro station. A police helicopter was also used to try and locate him.

“He’s not considered dangerous,” said APD senior communication officer Amanda Paga. “We don’t believe he took public transportation. He’s known to just kind of stay in the area.”

Paga said that this is the first time that Edwards has been able to get away unsupervised for an entire evening.

Edwards walks with a limp and is five-feet-two-inches tall and 120 pounds.

Police said he frequents the area of S. Van Dorn Street and Edsall Road, which is near the McDonald’s at 505 S. Van Dorn Street. Police tweeted a photo of Edwards standing in line at the McDonald’s at 11 a.m.

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.