News | ALXnow - Part 729

Morning Notes

Published December 20, 2021 at 5:00AM

Fairfax County police find two possible victims of ‘shopping cart killer,’ suspect in custody — “A plastic container found in the Huntington area near Route 1 on Wednesday (Dec. 15) contained the remains of two people that Fairfax County police believe to be the victims of a serial killer.” [FFXnow]

Harmony Place Mobile Home residents in Alexandria South demand repairs be part of upcoming sale — “Today, residents of Harmony Place… held a press conference at the park to demand significant health and safety improvements be made as a condition of the upcoming sale of the property.” [Zebra]

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published December 17, 2021 at 3:30PM

Ice & Lights: The Winter Village At Cameron Run in 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Well, it hasn’t exactly been a good news-heavy week in Alexandria.

There’s a possible serial killer in the area of Fairfax just south of Alexandria and the much-debated School Resource Officers have been removed from their posts pending an investigation into alleged inappropriate sexual messages to a former student, according to the Washington Post. A local juvenile was also killed in a fatal shooting this past weekend, though police said there’s no threat to public safety and the death is being considered an isolated incident.

Alexandria sees ‘exponential’ increase of COVID-19 infections, ACPS asks students and staff to get tested before returning from winter break

By James Cullum

Published December 17, 2021 at 2:15PM | Updated December 18, 2021 at 1:15AM

Alexandria’s COVID-19 infections jumped after Thanksgiving, and the numbers continue to rise going into the winter holidays.

There were 116 new cases reported in the city today (Friday), which is the most single-day cases reported since January 2021. There have been 301 new cases reported in the City in the last three days alone, and this “exponential” jump in COVID-19 cases, as described by the Health Department Thursday night, has stretched to Alexandria City Public Schools, as it waves farewell to 15,000 students for the two week winter break starting Monday.

Alexandria man charged with strangling girlfriend in Arlandria

By James Cullum

Published December 17, 2021 at 1:05PM | Updated December 18, 2021 at 1:07AM

A 24-year-old Alexandria man is being held without bond after allegedly strangling his girlfriend.

Antar Christmas was arrested on December 8 and charged with domestic assault and battery and impeding blood circulation or respiration of a family/household member. He is being held without bond in the Alexandria jail.

Council member Del Pepper looks back on 36 years of public and private city leadership battles

By Vernon Miles

Published December 17, 2021 at 10:45AM

Earlier this week, City Council member Redella “Del” Pepper finished up a historic run in city leadership that includes an unparalleled treasure trove of stories about the behind-the-scenes battles that made the city what it is today.

Pepper joined the City Council in 1985 and has remained in office for 12 terms before announcing last November that she wouldn’t run for reelection.

Police: Person ‘grazed’ in Arlandria shooting last night

By Vernon Miles

Published December 17, 2021 at 9:45AM

Alexandria Police at night (staff photo by James Cullum)

Police are investigating a shots fired incident in the 800 block of West Glebe Road in the Arlandria neighborhood.

The Alexandria Police Department said in a press release that one person was reported to be ‘grazed’ and that police were on the scene around 7 p.m. last night investigating.

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published December 17, 2021 at 5:00AM | Updated December 17, 2021 at 10:13AM

SROs in hot water over alleged inappropriate sexual messages — “The investigation stems from a recent report by a former student about alleged sexually inappropriate conversations that occurred during her time at the school, according to two people familiar with the inquiry but not authorized to speak about it on the record.” [Washington Post]

Holiday theft down in the city — “According to data collected by the Alexandria Police Department, a total of 56 shoplifting and concealment incidents have been reported for November and December, with a few weeks still left in December. This marks a decrease from 2020, which had 93 cases over the same two months, and 2019, during which 111 cases occurred over the same two months.” [Alexandria Times]

BREAKING: School Resource Officers removed from Alexandria City High School after ‘serious complaint’

By James Cullum

Published December 16, 2021 at 3:55PM | Updated December 22, 2021 at 1:16PM

The Alexandria City High School marquee (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated at 12 a.m, Friday, Dec. 17.) The two school resource officers at Alexandria City High School have been removed from their posts and placed on administrative leave after a “serious complaint,” according to the Alexandria Police Department.

“APD takes complaints regarding misconduct seriously and is working diligently to investigate this situation,” the department told ALXnow.

Driving Under the Influence arrests jump 34% so far this year in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published December 16, 2021 at 2:15PM

With two celebration-filled weeks left in the year, there has been a 34% jump in the number of Driving Under the Influence arrests in 2021 over last year.

As of Dec. 7, there have been 193 DUI arrests in Alexandria, up from 144 last year — a period when police minimized traffic enforcement, and restaurants and bars were still largely closed indoors due to the pandemic.

Burglaries and aggravated assaults up in 2021 in Alexandria, larcenies and auto thefts go down

By James Cullum

Published December 16, 2021 at 1:00PM

Alexandria Police in Old Town. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Overall, Alexandria’s Part 1 crime rate is down 9% compared to 2020, but it’s still 8% higher than 2019, according to recently released figures.

Police released the city’s Part 1 crime statistics for 2021, as of Dec. 7, and included are the reported numbers of homicides, rapes, robberies, auto thefts, larcenies, burglaries and aggravated assaults.

Police investigating fatal juvenile shooting

By Vernon Miles

Published December 16, 2021 at 12:15PM

Alexandria Police at night (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Police Department is investigating the death of a 16-year-old male after he was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound on Saturday, Dec. 11.

According to a press release, there is no threat to public safety and this is being investigated as an isolated incident.”