crime | ALXnow

Two men sentenced to combined 56 years in prison for rape and robbery at Alexandria hotel

Published July 29, 2026 at 9:15AM

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

An Alexandria man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison, and a Falls Church man has been sentenced to 16 years in prison after their convictions for rape and robbery at a hotel in the city’s West End in 2022.

Alexandria Circuit Court Judge Heidi E. Meinzer, on July 9, sentenced 37-year-old Ja’Real Wilkins, of Alexandria, to 40 years of active incarceration on two felony counts of rape and one felony count of forcible sodomy. Less than a week later, on July 14, Judge Kathleen Uston sentenced Wilkins’ partner in crime, 27-year-old Tysheem Boykins of Falls Church to 16 years of active incarceration on one felony count of forcible sodomy and one felony count of robbery by threat.

News

Man found guilty of reckless driving in 5-vehicle crash that killed woman in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published July 28, 2026 at 3:45PM

The Alexandria courthouse in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

A 68-year-old Fredericksburg man was found guilty today (Tuesday) of reckless driving for causing a five-vehicle crash that killed a 69-year-old Massachusetts woman on Interstate 495 in Alexandria on Nov. 5, 2024.

In a two-day bench trial, Circuit Court Judge Katie Uston found Lee Allen MacKall guilty of reckless driving, and sentenced him to a year in prison, all suspended on the condition of his uniform good behavior. MacKall tearfully apologized to the family and friends of the victim, Lauren Johnson-Lavender, who died at the scene.

News

JUST IN: Trespassing at vacant home leads to police presence in Old Town

By Emily Leayman

Published July 28, 2026 at 1:45PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

There was an increased police presence in Old Town midday Tuesday in response to a trespassing incident.

Around 12:36 p.m., the Alexandria Police Department said it was responding to an “ongoing situation” in the 1700 block of Cameron Street. An APD spokesperson said officers responded when an unauthorized person entered a vacant home.

News

Alexandria man faces public intoxication charge after alleged knife assault

By James Cullum

Published July 28, 2026 at 11:45AM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A 65-year-old Alexandria man was released on a summons after another man was reportedly stabbed in the West End late Sunday night (July 26), the Alexandria Police Department says.

The incident was reported around 11:45 p.m. in the unit block of S. Reynolds Street. The suspect was arrested nearby and charged with resisting arrest, public intoxication and drinking alcohol in public, according to APD. The victim was found by police to be suffering “from an apparent knife wound” and was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

News

Alexandria police chief addresses summer uptick in crime

By James Cullum

Published July 23, 2026 at 3:45PM

A man was stabbed in the 1200 block of Braddock Place, July 21, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s uptick in violent crimes this summer has caught the attention of the police chief.

Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire said the city has seen a significant spike in felonious assaults, including a stabbing on July 22 in the city’s West End and an unrelated stabbing near the Braddock Road Metro Station on July 21. A man was also arrested after allegedly brandishing a knife and assaulting a man in Old Town on July 20.

News

Alexandria man allegedly strangles former roommate unconscious over utility bill dispute

By James Cullum

Published July 23, 2026 at 11:45AM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

An Alexandria man is facing felony charges after being arrested earlier this month for allegedly strangling a former roommate in a parking lot of an apartment complex in the city’s West End.

The victim reported to police that on Monday, July 6, he met the suspect, Amir Jlassi, in a parking lot in the 5000 block of Seminary Road to talk about $750 for a utility bill that Jlassi and other roommates owed him. The victim said he recorded the incident on his phone, and that Jlassi then strangled, punched and spit on him, causing him to briefly lose consciousness. He also said that Jlassi stole his phone, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

News

UPDATED: APD arrests suspect after woman stabbed in Alexandria’s West End early Wednesday

By James Cullum

Published July 22, 2026 at 1:45PM | Updated July 22, 2026 at 4:07PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A woman was stabbed in an apartment in Alexandria’s West End early Wednesday morning (July 22).

The Alexandria Police Department responded around 2:26 a.m. to a domestic-related stabbing at the Newport Village Apartments in the 4800 block of W. Braddock Road. The victim was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

News

UPDATED: Arrest made after man stabbed near Braddock Road Metro station Tuesday night

By James Cullum

Published July 22, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated July 22, 2026 at 12:31PM

A man was stabbed in the 1200 block of Braddock Place, July 21, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A man was arrested after a stabbing near the Braddock Road Metro station on Tuesday night (July 21).

The victim was stabbed in the neck near benches in the plaza area of the 1200 block of Braddock Place. He was later transported to the hospital, according to Alexandria Police and Fire Department dispatches.

News

Tracking device on $1,500 bike leads to arrest of alleged thief in West End

By James Cullum

Published July 21, 2026 at 3:45PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

An Alexandria man faces a felony theft charge after allegedly being found with a stolen bicycle that had a tracking device on it.

The victim reported to the Alexandria Police Department that a chain was cut and his Cannondale Quick CX bicycle was stolen on April 25 in the 4400 block of Taney Avenue in the city’s West End, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit. The victim also told police that he had a tracking device on the bike, which is worth about $1,500, and that it was still located somewhere within the same block.

News

Convicted porch pirate jailed again for alleged shoplifting in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published July 21, 2026 at 1:45PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A Manassas man who was found guilty last month of mail theft, petit larceny and entering a property to damage is back in the Alexandria jail after being charged with shoplifting and two counts of petit larceny.

On June 12, the Alexandria Police Department received multiple calls from Old Town residents that packages were stolen from their front porches by a man driving a white Jeep with Virginia tags. The thefts included a package with less than $50 worth of items stolen from a front porch in the 700 block of S. Royal Street, two lamps and chairs valued at more than $600 from a porch in the 700 block of S. Fairfax Street, six packages valued at $200 taken from a front porch in the 500 block of S. Washington Street, and two lamps valued at $100 taken from a porch in the 500 block of Duke Street, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

News

JUST IN: Man arrested after alleged assault and knife brandishing in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published July 20, 2026 at 3:45PM

A man was arrested in the 500 block of King Street in Old Town after allegedly brandishing a knife, July 20, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A man is under arrest after allegedly brandishing a knife and assaulting another man near the Alexandria courthouse in Old Town today (Monday).

The Alexandria Police Department was notified around 2:30 p.m. that a man in a camouflage T-shirt and khaki pants assaulted another man and was walking around the 500 block of King Street with an open knife. ALXnow observed APD tell the suspect that he was under arrest for a number of charges, including assault and battery.