Alexandria has seen a spike in the number of shots fired calls over the last two months, and police are asking the public for help.
“While there is no acceptable level of gun crime, we are especially concerned about recent incidents in which conflicts between people have escalated to the use of firearms,” Police Chief Michael L. Brown said in a statement. “As we continue to make progress in these cases, we ask for the public’s help in providing any available information.”
There were 16 calls for shots fired in August and September, including the city’s second murder of the year on Sept. 30. On Sunday, police arrested a suspect in the death of 57-year-old John Pope, who was shot at his home on Sept. 30.
There have been 34 reports of gunfire throughout the city this year, and there were 37 reports of gunfire in 2019, according to the Alexandria Police Department.
“Of the 16 incidents in August and September 2020 involving shots fired, investigators have ruled out at least seven as having any connection to each other,” police reported in a press release. “These include two unrelated incidents involving neighbors, a domestic dispute, an accidental self-inflicted injury, and a robbery. One incident involved the arrest of a person who fired shots, with no victims or witnesses located.”
The release continued, “Detectives are working to determine whether any of the other nine incidents may be related, and to apprehend all those responsible. Several involved property damage and one involved a non-life-threatening injury. Five occurred in Old Town, and the Police Department has significantly increased patrol presence in those areas. The remaining four incidents occurred in different parts of Alexandria.”
There was a shootout in the West End on Sept. 13, and guns were drawn in a failed attempted robbery less than a mile away on Sept. 30. In Old Town there have been five calls for shots fired over the last two months, and the surge in shooting led to an increased police presence over the summer in the Parker Gray neighborhood in Old Town.
The first murder of 2020 was also committed in the West End on July 29.
The most recent incident occurred early on Sunday morning. No suspects were arrested and no one was reportedly injured after shots were fired in the 100 block of South Whiting Street in the West End.
NOTIFICATION :: The Alexandria Police Department is investigating a “shots fired” call for service in the 100 block of South Whiting Street. There are no injuries. Expect police activity in the area.
— Alexandria Police (@AlexandriaVAPD) October 4, 2020
Graph via City of Alexandria
Recent Stories
Staff raises and market rate adjustments are a few of the proposed highlights after Alexandria City Public Schools got the green light last week by City Council to add $273.03…
(Updated 3:50 p.m.) The results of the Healthy Home Network survey last fall found that the biggest concern for most residents in Alexandria is pests. The survey was run by…
The final touches are being made on the expansion of Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus. After two years of construction, a certificate of occupancy was issued for the…
Tri Pointe brings Queer Eye interior designer Bobby Berk to Alexandria’s new Eisenhower Pointe. Tri Pointe Homes, one of the nation’s most celebrated names in residential building, introduced the new…
Good news, D.C. area. You can save money on your next home cleaning with Well-Paid Maids. It’s easy!
We offer a discount when you set up recurring cleans — and the discounts just increased this week!
For weekly cleans, get $30 off each cleaning.
Potomac Harmony is Back! Following a gap year of competing, then virtual rehearsals during the pandemic, followed by the well-earned retirement of our long-term director, a year of a director search, Potomac Harmony hit the regional contest stage in Concord, North Carolina in March for the first time since 2018! It was exhilarating, reaffirming, and rewarding!
The chorus hit all of its goals, the biggest of which was to have fun and sing our best on contest stage — we did both! Because we earned a score over 400 points, our new Director, Allison Lynskey, was awarded the Novice Director award, photo above. Additionally, one of our charter members, Jackie Bottash, was nominated for and honored with the Leadership Excellence award. It was a celebratory weekend!
What’s next? So much! We now look forward to upcoming performances, growing our membership, and expanding our musical product with new arrangements and an education component each week. It’s an exciting time to be part of this ever-growing ensemble!
Alexandria NAACP, Shiloh Baptist Church, DPC to hold City Council…
The Alexandria Branch of the NAACP, Shiloh Baptist Church, and The Departmental Progressive Club to hold the City Council Candidate Forum for ALL Candidates in the City of Alexandria Virginia. The event is Free of Charge and Open to The