News | ALXnow - Part 925

Man Injured in Violent Carjacking in Old Town

Published July 30, 2020 at 11:45AM | Updated July 30, 2020 at 12:06PM

An Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Police are investigating a violent carjacking that occurred on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 14, in the 300 block of Euille Street in Old Town.

The victim, who was interviewed by police at the hospital with a non-life-threatening head wound, told police that he was approached by three men as he parked his car near his home, according to a search warrant affidavit. The men asked the victim for a ride, and he told them that he was not an Uber driver. One of the men then started hitting the back of the victim’s 2016 blue Honda CR-V and the victim stayed in the car. The suspects then walked away in the direction of Royal Street.

Victim Suffers Knife Cuts in Attempted Early Morning West End Robbery

By James Cullum

Published July 30, 2020 at 10:15AM | Updated July 30, 2020 at 10:34AM

Police car lights (file photo)

Alexandria Police are investigating an attempted robbery in a residential neighborhood in the West End of the city, which occurred hours before a woman was shot to death less than a mile away early Wednesday morning (July 29).

The male victim was reportedly cut multiple times during the altercation, but the injuries were not life threatening, according to Alexandria Assistant Police Chief Don Hayes.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published July 30, 2020 at 9:00AM | Updated July 30, 2020 at 5:14PM

Exercising along the Mount Vernon Trail in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

COVID-19 Cases increase by 10 — “Positive tests up 10 to 2,759 in the City 7-day Positivity Rate down to 5.6% 0 new hospitalizations Still safer at home, wash hands, wear masks and support our essential workers.” [Twitter]

Beyer Votes for Republican Colleague by Proxy — “Beyer is a popular proxy choice for House Democrats, since he represents a Northern Virginia district that is just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.” [Roll Call]

ACPS Engages With Students on Logistical Challenges and Fall Expectations

By Vernon Miles

Published July 29, 2020 at 3:00PM

Alexandria City Public Schools promised a group of students inquiring about the upcoming school year that the new format will be smoother and more accessible than the spring and summer classes, whether that’s online-only or a hybrid model.

In a virtual Q&A session, school administrators spoke to elementary, middle and high schoolers about what they can expect in the upcoming school year.

BREAKING: Police Investigating Homicide in West End Residential Community

By Vernon Miles

Published July 29, 2020 at 1:45PM | Updated July 31, 2020 at 12:59PM

(Updated July 31) The Alexandria Police Department is investigating a homicide in the West End.

Police responded to a call regarding shots fired at S. Greenmount Drive around 6:20 a.m., according to a press release. At the scene, officers found the body of a woman with gunshot wounds on her upper body.

Shots Fired Tuesday Night in Braddock Neighborhood

By James Cullum

Published July 29, 2020 at 11:30AM | Updated July 29, 2020 at 11:50AM

An Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Police are investigating another shots fired call for service in the Braddock area.

Police notified the public of the incident in the 1200 block of Madison Street in a tweet at 9:35 p.m. The incident is the third shooting in the Braddock area since July 9. One suspect was arrested after a July 11 shooting, and police would not release their identity since it would impede an ongoing investigation.

Save the Tree Petition at T.C. Williams High School Garners Nearly 1,000 Signatures

By James Cullum

Published July 29, 2020 at 10:15AM

A 150-year-old tree was cut down on the grounds of T.C. Williams High School so that a new concession stand can go in its place. (Image via Boyd Walker)

“Some Alexandria citizens have already stepped up to say they will protect the tree, some even going so far as to say they will chain themselves to it,” notes the Change.org petition. “Let us show them our support and tell the city and school board NO to killing this tree.”

The tree was reportedly supposed to be cut down last week, but is still standing. ACPS did not respond to ALXnow’s calls for comment on the situation, and if it is possible to scuttle plans to cut it down.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published July 29, 2020 at 9:00AM | Updated July 29, 2020 at 10:37AM

Mayor Reports COVID-19 Cases Increase by 14 — “Positive tests up 14 to 2,749 in the City 7-day Positivity Rate up to 5.9% 0 new hospitalizations Still safer at home, wash hands, wear masks and support our essential workers.” [Twitter]

Beyer Asks U.S. Park Police Chief to Implement Body Cameras After Lafayette Square Incident — “Beyer seeks commitment to body cam program funded/authorized by Congress from acting Chief Monahan given USPP’s transparency failures in the killing of Bijan Ghaisar. Monahan: USPP not ‘in a position to successfully implement, manage, and sustain a body-worn camera program.'” [Twitter]

Beyer-Backed Helicopter Noise Amendment at Stake in NDAA Showdown

By Vernon Miles

Published July 28, 2020 at 5:30PM | Updated March 15, 2024 at 2:38PM

A local addition to the National Defense Authorization Act — a $740 billion bill approved through the House and Senate and headed to the White House — would require the Pentagon to establish a helicopter noise abatement group for the region.

Report: Progress Made On Improving Alexandria’s Pedestrian/Cyclist Infrastructure

By Vernon Miles

Published July 28, 2020 at 4:45PM

A trail near the Braddock Road Metro Station in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

The update on the Transportation Master Plan Pedestrian and Bicycle Chapter wasn’t planned to coincide with a sudden uptick in bicycle ridership and walking around the city, but it could help explain why many Alexandrians exploring their local pedestrian/bike infrastructure might find it different than they remember.

An update prepared for the canceled June 17 Transportation Commission meeting shined some light on the progress the city has made since it a chapter specifically about that infrastructure was added to the city’s Transportation Master Plan in 2016. The primary goals the city laid out at the time were to improve safety, engineering, encouragement and education of bicycle and pedestrian facilities in Alexandria. The move corresponded with a push towards Vision Zero — a project that aims to eliminate all traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2028.

New Scooter Company Helbiz Rolls Into Alexandria and Arlington

By Vernon Miles

Published July 28, 2020 at 3:30PM

After a launch delayed by the pandemic, mobility company Helbiz has started putting scooters onto Arlington and Alexandria streets.

The company announced yesterday that it would immediately move forward with bringing 100 new scooters to locations in Arlington and 200 to Alexandria. Like other scooter companies, like Lime or Bird, Helbiz scooters are unlocked by scanning a code in an app, riding with cost determined by distance, and parking.