A 30-year-old man was convicted Tuesday by an Alexandria jury on felony charges stemming from a 2023 hit-and-run incident that left a 15-year-old hospitalized and prompted a lockdown at George Washington Middle School.
Zsavon Gionte Walters was found guilty of malicious bodily injury and hit-and-run causing personal injury to another in connection with the Oct. 4, 2023, incident in the Parker-Gray area of Old Town Alexandria.
According to a press release issued today by Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter, evidence presented at trial showed Walters intentionally drove a rented moving truck onto a sidewalk where four pedestrians were present, striking and running over the teenage victim’s legs.
The incident began around 3 p.m. when eyewitnesses and surveillance footage captured Walters driving erratically in the area, “circling blocks, driving the wrong way down one-way streets, and stopping on the road for long periods,” according to the press release.
Walters ultimately drove the wrong way down Montgomery Street before making a U-turn and intentionally driving onto the sidewalk. The four pedestrians ran to avoid the truck, but the 15-year-old victim was struck and his legs were run over. He was transported to a hospital for treatment of wounds to his arms and legs.
After the collision, Walters made another U-turn and continued driving recklessly, eventually fleeing to George Washington Middle School property where he drove “at a high rate of speed while students were outside on the school fields,” according to the press release. A school resource officer attempted to stop the truck, but Walters drove off, continuing to evade police at high speeds and running a red light.
The truck was later found abandoned in the 200 block of Eisenhower Connector. Police used paperwork found in the vehicle along with surveillance footage, financial records, Lyft records and cell phone records to identify Walters as the suspect.
ALXnow previously reported on Walters’ arrest by U.S. Marshals in October 2024, more than a year after the incident occurred.
The case was investigated by the Alexandria Police Department with Detective Lemar Gardizi as lead investigator. Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Maana K. Parcham and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Michelle R. Gruber prosecuted the case.
“My office will be seeking a significant sentence of active incarceration in this matter, both to hold the defendant accountable for his violent actions as well as to deter others from committing similar crimes,” Porter said in the press release.
After two days of testimony, the jury returned guilty verdicts on Aug. 13. Walters is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 30 and remains incarcerated at the William G. Truesdale Alexandria Adult Detention Center.
