News

Multiple arrests in Alexandria linked to Virginia DMV fake documents scam

By James Cullum
The Franklin P. Backus Courthouse in Alexandria (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Multiple people from DC, Maryland and Virginia have been charged with felonies in Alexandria within the last several months as part of an alleged scheme to get driver’s and commercial driver’s licenses with forged documents, ALXnow has learned.

On May 5, 2022, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles discovered fraudulent out-of-state driving records being used to get driver’s licenses and commercial driver’s licenses, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit filed in the Alexandria Circuit Court by DMV’s law enforcement division.

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D.C. man charged in armed robbery spree, including one shooting in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles
A clerk was shot in the leg during a robbery at the 7-ELeven at 3023 Duke Street on April 17, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

D.C. resident Shamell Joyner, 35, has been charged with a series of armed robberies, including one in Alexandria last month in which a clerk was shot, Patch first reported.

In April, a clerk at the 7-Eleven at 3023 Duke Street was reportedly shot in the leg after a bullet fired at the floor ricocheted. The Alexandria Police Department (APD) said the injuries were serious but non-life threatening.

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There’s a new convenience store next to the newly reopened West Glebe Road Bridge

By James Cullum
Owner Alamgir Mia at his AJ Tobacco & Mini Mart at 1037 W. Glebe Road (staff photo by James Cullum)

This could be the start of something big.

In February, Alamgir Mia opened AJ Tobacco & Mini Mart at 1037 W. Glebe Road in the former Look Sharp Cleaners. It’s the first business for the Bangladeshi-born owner, who signed a 10-year lease and hopes to open more convenience stores in the future.

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Alexandria Black History Museum director to lead city’s new African American History division

By Vernon Miles
Audrey Davis, executive director of the Alexandria Black History Museum, speaks at the Walk the Walk 2020 event at Alexandria's African American Heritage Park, August 27, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Audrey Davis, executive director of the Alexandria Black History Museum (902 Wythe Street), has been tapped to lead the city’s new African American History division of the Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA).

Davis has been a leader in the city’s efforts to preserve Black history in Alexandria, starting as a part-time curator with the city in 1993. The city has made significant strides in recent years to better present the city’s Black history, from the opening of the Freedom House Museum to guided tours of the Parker-Gray neighborhood.

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JUST IN: Arrest made for 2022 West End murder

By James Cullum
Dontae Drumgold has been charged with the 2022 murder of a man in the West End (via Alexandria Sheriff's Office)

(Updated 2:45 p.m.) A 28-year-old Prince William County man was arrested for the murder of a 25-year-old more than a year ago, the Alexandria Police Department announced today.

Dontae LaShawn Drumgold is being held without bond in connection with the death of Elijah Williams in March 2022.

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Alexandria teens running community car wash today to raise awareness of fentanyl dangers

By Vernon Miles

Alexandria teens at the city’s Sheltercare facility are hosting a car wash today where they’ll discuss the fentanyl issues that have devastated Alexandria.

The community car wash is scheduled to run from 3-5 p.m. today (Tuesday) at Sheltercare (200 S. Whiting Street), a program administered by the Juvenile Detention Commission of Northern Virginia to “provide services and stabilization for youth.”

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ACPS unveils new two-year agreement with police department for school resource officers

By James Cullum
Alexandria Police at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus. (staff photo by James Cullum)

After years in development, a new agreement was released between Alexandria City Public Schools and the Alexandria Police Department to provide school resource officers (SROs) at the city’s high school and middle schools.

The new memorandum of understanding between ACPS and APD has been a long time coming. SROs were defunded by the City Council in last year’s budget, and Alexandria City Public Schools spent the first few months of the 2021-2022 school year without the officers in its high school and middle schools. The officers were returned after ACPS pleaded with Council for their return in the wake of multiple incidents with weapons in schools.

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85-year-old Trattoria da Franco owner says he’s got at least five years left in Old Town

By James Cullum
Franco Abbruzzetti, owner of Trattoria da Franco at 305 S. Washington Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

After seven years in retirement in Italy, Franco Abbruzzetti is back at Trattoria da Franco in Old Town.

Last fall, the 85-year-old bought back his restaurant at 305 S. Washington Street from Michael Strutton, who bought it in 2017 and renamed it Michael’s Little Italy. Abbruzzetti and his wife moved to Rome, adopted a young boy, Bruno, who is now five years old, and got bored being away from his business.

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Alexandria man arrested after shots fired, police chase on I-395

By James Cullum
Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

A 41-year-old Alexandria man is being held without bond on multiple charges after allegedly shooting a gun at a vehicle while driving, strangling a former girlfriend, eluding police and discarding a handgun on Interstate 395.

The victim called police at around 11:15 p.m. on Friday night (May 5) and reported that the suspect allegedly fired several shots at other vehicles in the area of E. Raymond Avenue and Dewitt Avenue, according to dispatch reports.

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