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.
A 51-year-old man charged with the second-degree murder of Robert Knott in Alexandria’s West End pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity yesterday (Monday).
Ricky Dehate was charged with second-degree murder when Knott, 54, died from his injuries on Sept. 13, 2023, two days after he was kicked and punched unconscious at a bus stop in the 2500 block of N. Van Dorn Street. Dehate’s attorney, Mike Hadeed, doesn’t deny that his client committed the act, but said he did it while having a psychotic episode.
