crime | ALXnow

Housing board scandal, convenience store robbery top week’s news

Published October 17, 2025 at 3:30PM

ARHA properties in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

It’s been quite a week, Alexandria. Here’s a look at ALXnow’s top stories.

The top story this week was on the resignation of all the commissioners overseeing the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board. The crisis began in August when ALXnow first reported that then-ARHA CEO Erik Johnson was living in an ARHA-managed public housing unit. The ARHA board published a statement acknowledging the situation, demanded that he vacate the property, and then terminated his employment in September. In a special meeting on Wednesday, the City Council appointed six new ARHA board members.

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Suspect with knife steals cigarettes from West End convenience store

By James Cullum

Published October 13, 2025 at 2:30PM

The 7-Eleven at 6120 Lincolnia Road (via Google Maps)

No injuries were reported after a male with a knife robbed a West End convenience store of cigarettes on Sunday, October 12

A clerk at the 7-Eleven store at 6120 Linconia Road called police after the incident occurred at around 5:30 a.m., according to Alexandria Police Department radio dispatches. The suspect, who fled the scene on foot, is described as a Black male wearing a red hooded sweatshirt, gray sweatpants, and black shoes.

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Jones text scandal, ice cream assault case lead Alexandria’s top stories

By James Cullum

Published October 10, 2025 at 3:30PM

Democrat Jay Jones speaks in Richmond during his 2024 campaign kickoff for attorney general. Jones is now facing bipartisan backlash over newly surfaced text messages containing violent remarks about a former Republican House speaker. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury)

Welcome to Friday, Alexandria! Here’s a look at ALXnow’s top stories of the week.

With less than a month until the Nov. 4 general election, this week’s most-read story is on the controversy surrounding Virginia’s Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones. The National Review broke the news last Friday (Oct. 3) that in August 2022, Jones sent text messages to Del. Carrie Coyner (R-75), “fantasizing about shooting then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert and his children,” according to the Virginia Mercury story posted on ALXnow.

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Alexandria man charged with abduction, assault after ice cream dispute

By James Cullum

Published October 6, 2025 at 3:30PM | Updated October 8, 2025 at 3:21PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Correction: The victim in this case is not the suspect’s wife. Police recovered a weapon at the suspect’s home, and spoke with the suspect’s wife. ALXnow regrets the error.

A 60-year-old Alexandria man will appear in court later this month after being charged with abduction, assault and battery, and brandishing a firearm in an incident that allegedly “stemmed from dropping ice cream,” according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

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Metro chase death, hidden bathroom camera, homicide arrests lead this week’s top stories

By James Cullum

Published October 3, 2025 at 3:30PM

Suspected fare evaders captured chasing a man, who tried to elude them by jumping onto the tracks of the Potomac Yard Metro station before being struck by a train (via MTPD)

Welcome to Friday, Alexandria. Here’s a look at the top stories of the week.

ALXnow’s top story this week is on the man who was struck by a train at the Potomac Yard Metro station on September 22 and later died at George Washington University Hospital. Metro Transit Police stated at the time that the man had trespassed onto the tracks, and an investigation revealed that he was being chased by two alleged fare evaders: a 17-year-old female and an 18-year-old female, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

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Alexandria man charged with sexually assaulting 2 students at Edison High

By James Cullum

Published October 1, 2025 at 1:30PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

An instructional assistant at Thomas Edison High School, located at 5801 Franconia Road, Alexandria (Fairfax County), has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting two students.

Derrick Burroughs, a 40-year-old Alexandria man, was arrested after Child Protective Services received two referrals that two students were “inappropriately touched,” according to the Fairfax County Police Department. Burroughs, an instructional assistant with Fairfax County Public Schools since 2023, was transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and charged with two counts of aggravated sexual battery and indecent liberties by a custodian. He was released after posting a $3,000 bond, according to FCPD.

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Del Ray restaurant employee suspended after customer reports hidden bathroom camera

By James Cullum

Published September 30, 2025 at 3:00PM | Updated October 2, 2025 at 3:20PM

Gustave Boulangerie and Brasserie at 2213 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray (via Facebook)

The Alexandria Police Department is investigating a report that an employee at a popular Del Ray bistro recorded customers using the bathroom on Saturday, Sept. 20.

Karim Mashmour, the owner of Gustave Boulangerie & Brasserie (2213 Mount Vernon Avenue), states that the employee has been suspended pending the outcome of the APD’s investigation, while police indicate that it is an ongoing investigation and that no charges have been filed.

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Alexandria woman loses $7,600 in Wells Fargo impersonation scam

By James Cullum

Published September 30, 2025 at 1:45PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

An Alexandria woman lost nearly $7,600 in a phone scam last month, according to the Alexandria Police Department.

On August 12, the victim received a phone call from multiple suspects claiming to be representatives of Wells Fargo, stating that the victim’s account information had been leaked. The victim was told she needed to transfer her money to a different account, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

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Alexandria man charged in mob assault, robbery in Arlandria

By James Cullum

Published September 30, 2025 at 12:45PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

An 18-year-old Alexandria man has been arrested in connection with an assault by a mob and robbery in the city’s Arlandria neighborhood on Tuesday, Sept. 23.

Multiple people assaulted the male victim as he walked in the parking lot of the Food Star International (206 W. Glebe Road). He reported to police that a gray Honda Accord pulled up and that the suspects got out of the car, assaulted him, and stole his shoes, wallet, cash, backpack, and phone, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

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Man struck by train at Potomac Yard Metro dies, was being chased

By James Cullum

Published September 30, 2025 at 11:15AM

Suspected fare evaders captured chasing a man, who tried to elude them by jumping onto the tracks of the Potomac Yard Metro station before being struck by a train (via MTPD)

The man who was struck by a train at the Potomac Yard Metro station on Sept. 22 succumbed to his injuries that evening at George Washington University Hospital, according to the Alexandria Police Department.

Metro Transit Police said at the time that the man trespassed onto the tracks, and an investigation has found that he was being chased by two alleged fare evaders, a 17-year-old female and an 18-year-old female, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

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DASH places 2 registered sex offenders on leave following ALXnow reporting

By James Cullum

Published September 24, 2025 at 6:00PM

Electric DASH bus, photo via DASH/Facebook

Following Tuesday’s story about DASH hiring policies not prohibiting sex offenders, the transit agency has placed two employees on the Virginia State Police registry on administrative leave to “assess the rigor of our recruitment standards and ensure we meet the highest standards in providing safe, fair, and accessible transit to our community.”

ALXnow looked into DASH’s hiring practices after the Alexandria School Board discussed safety concerns about a proposal to transport Alexandria City High School students on DASH buses starting next school year.