Bradlee Shopping Center | ALXnow

BREAKING: Bradlee Shopping Center murderer sentenced to five years with Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice

Published October 26, 2023 at 3:05PM | Updated October 26, 2023 at 8:37PM

Police at the Bradlee Shopping Center where 18-year-old Luis Mejia Hernandez was fatally stabbed on May 24, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated at 8:30 p.m.) A 17-year-old former Alexandria City High School student was sentenced Thursday to five years with the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice for the 2022 murder of 18-year-old Luis Mejia Hernandez in the parking lot of the Bradlee Shopping Center, with one of those years already served.

Ryan Vega was 16 when he fatally stabbed Hernandez during a melee with dozens of ACHS students in the parking lot. In a two-day June bench trial, Judge James C. Clark found Vega guilty of second-degree murder and murder by mob, and said that Vega took advantage of his time behind bars at the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center by exhibiting good behavior and doing well with school.

News

ACHS Principal says students will face disciplinary action for skipping school to go to nearby shopping centers

By Vernon Miles

Published August 18, 2023 at 9:50AM

Police at the Bradlee Shopping Center where and 18-year-old was stabbed and killed on May 24 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Ahead of the start of the new school year, Alexandria City High School (ACHS) Principal Alexander Duncan issued a warning reminder that students are “discouraged” from going to nearby shopping centers during school hours.

The specific shopping center isn’t named, but it’s no secret that the Bradlee Shopping Center has been afflicted with violence in recent years linked to students from the nearby ACHS. There have been multiple shootings and brawls, including one that ended with the murder of 18-year-old Luis Mejia Hernandez in the parking lot of the Bradlee Shopping Center.

Opinion

Poll: Have safety issues at the Bradlee Shopping Center affected whether or not you shop there?

By Vernon Miles

Published June 6, 2023 at 3:45PM | Updated June 6, 2023 at 5:06PM

Police at the Bradlee Shopping Center where and 18-year-old was stabbed and killed on May 24 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A 17-year-old was found guilty today for the murder of 18-year-old Luis Mejia Hernandez in the parking lot of the Bradlee Shopping Center.

The tragic killing was, however, just part of a string of violent events that have occurred in the shopping center. There have been multiple shootings at the Bradlee Shopping Center in recent years as well as brawls.

News

BREAKING: 17-year-old found guilty of murder at Bradlee Shopping Center

By James Cullum

Published June 6, 2023 at 12:50PM | Updated June 7, 2023 at 2:28PM

The Franklin P. Backus Courthouse at 520 King Street in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

A 17-year-old former Alexandria City High School student was found guilty Tuesday for last year’s fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Luis Mejia Hernandez in the parking lot of the Bradlee Shopping Center.

Judge James C. Clark found the teen guilty of second-degree murder and murder by mob and said that the case is a tragedy for all involved. The defendant sat silently as Clark rendered his decision at the conclusion of the two-day bench trial. He faces between five-to-40 years in prison for the second-degree murder charge and five-to-40 years for the murder by mob, or lynching, charge.

News

JUST IN: Driver crashes car into Bradlee Shopping Center store

By ALXnow.com

Published May 30, 2023 at 3:50PM | Updated May 30, 2023 at 5:49PM

Car through the storefront of Robcyns in the Bradlee Shopping Center (staff photo by James Cullum)

A driver was hospitalized after she drove her car into Robcyns (3660 King Street) at the Bradlee Shopping Center.

The incident occurred around 3:20 p.m., according to the dispatch.

News

Alexandria Police unveil strategy to combat crime surge

By James Cullum

Published April 26, 2023 at 3:30PM

Suspect arrested after shooting near Braddock Road Metro station (staff photo by James Cullum)

Adding police presence to high-crime areas, putting more cops in communities and strategically placing mobile camera units are just a few of the initial strategies that the Alexandria Police Department is employing to confront a crime surge.

APD Assistant Chief Easton McDonald briefed City Council on the uptick on Tuesday night, and also said that there is an increase in juvenile crime and crimes being committed by young people.

News

BREAKING: Shooting reported at Bradlee Shopping Center

By Vernon Miles

Published April 17, 2023 at 4:35PM | Updated April 17, 2023 at 5:04PM

Police near the Bradlee Shopping center investigating a shooting (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated 5 p.m.) Police are responding to a shooting near the bus stop at the Bradlee Shopping Center (3660 King Street).

According to the scanner, multiple gunshots were reported by employees at the McDonalds at the Bradlee Shopping Center — where an ACHS student was murdered last year — around 3:40 p.m.

News

Vehicle smashes through front window of Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Bradlee Shopping Center

By James Cullum

Published February 14, 2023 at 1:15PM

A vehicle smashed through the front window of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe in the Bradlee Shopping Center, Feb. 14, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A car smashed through the front window of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe (3610-G King Street) in the Bradlee Shopping Center this morning.

No one was injured in the crash, which occurred just after 8 a.m., and closed the business for the day. The driver stayed on-scene and wasn’t charged, according to a store manager

News

17-year-old arrested after fight at McDonald’s in the Bradlee Shopping Center

By James Cullum

Published February 6, 2023 at 10:45AM

A 17-year-old male was arrested after a fight inside the McDonald’s (3646 King Street) in the Bradlee Shopping Center on Jan. 24 (Tuesday).

The incident occurred inside the restaurant after school at around 3:30 p.m., according to the Alexandria Police Department. The teen was charged with assaulting a police officer, trespassing and obstruction of justice.

News

Crumbl Cookies plans to open in Bradlee Shopping Center this summer

By Vernon Miles

Published January 25, 2023 at 10:30AM | Updated January 25, 2023 at 11:10AM

Weekly lineup of cookies at Crumbl Cookies (image via Crumbl Cookies/Facebook)

(Updated at 11:10 a.m.) Crumbl Cookies, a Utah-based chain of cookie stores, is planning to open its new Bradlee Shopping Center location this summer.

Crumbl Cookies offers a rotating selection of cookies from the classic milk chocolate chip to a “French Silk Pie” cookie. Plans for the new Bradlee Shopping Center location were first announced last year but there was no information at the time on when the store would be opening.

News

‘Bun Papa’ wins RAMMY award for best regional pop-up concept

By James Cullum

Published July 26, 2022 at 1:15PM | Updated July 26, 2022 at 2:14PM

Bun Papa talks a big game, and now they have a RAMMY to back it up.

On Sunday (July 24), thousands were in attendance recognizing the region’s culinary excellence at the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington’s annual RAMMY awards at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Bun Papa won the outstanding pop-up concept in the publicly voted category.