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Vandals Break Into Virginia Zoo, Trash Exhibits, Terrify Animals With Joyride (Video)
A pack of late-night vandals broke into a Northern Virginia zoo, damaged animal enclosures, and took work vehicles for a joyride — all while terrifying the animals, officials said.
The chaos unfolded overnight on Tuesday, April 15, at the NOVA Wild Zoo, a popular family destination in Fairfax County.
According to zoo management, several people forced their way into the park, caused damage to multiple exhibits, and even got into the capybara enclosure. The intruders then took work vehicles and rode recklessly through the property.
Staff returned to find the aftermath — broken fencing, trash…
Alexandria Man Fires At Driver On Route 5 In Maryland Road Rage Shooting, Police Say
A Virginia man who fired a gun at another driver during a road rage meltdown in Prince George’s County has been tracked down and arrested, Maryland State Police said.
Marco Williams, 46, of Alexandria, is facing a stack of charges, including attempted first-degree murder, assault, and firearm offenses following the incident last week, investigators announced on Thursday, April 10.
Troopers said it happened around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 3, along Route 5 near Birtchill Road in Prince George’s County.
The victim, who was not hurt, told troopers that the driver of a black 2023 Ford Explo…
Illegal Immigrant Released After Sex Abuse Conviction Re-Arrested In Great Falls: ICE
A Guatemalan national convicted of having sex with a child was released by a Virginia jail despite an ICE detainer — but now he's back in federal custody after a major multi-agency takedown, authorities said.
Ander Cortez-Mendez, 21, was arrested on Wednesday, April 2 in Falls Church, by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers working with ATF, the DEA, and the Diplomatic Security Service, ICE officials announced.
Cortez-Mendez, who is in the country illegally, had previously been convicted in Fairfax County Circuit Court of consensual sexual intercourse with a child.
He was …
Fairfax Man Who Shot Into Car Carrying Estranged Wife, Killing Bystander, Learns Fate
A Fairfax County man who gunned down a complete stranger while firing into a car carrying his estranged wife will now spend the next three decades in prison, prosecutors announced.
Kyjuan Trott-McLean, 45, was sentenced to 43 years in prison for the 2022 shooting that left 31-year-old Brandon Wims dead in Alexandria, Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano said Friday, April 4.
On Oct. 2, 2022, Trott-McLean spotted his estranged wife, Kezia Leckey, sitting in a parked car with her friend Sapphire Lawrence and Wims outside an apartment building on St. Gregory Lane, prosecutors said.
Trott-McL…
Inmate Found Dead In Fairfax County Jail Cell, Detectives Say
An inmate at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center was found dead in his cell Sunday evening, sparking a death investigation by county detectives, officials confirmed.
Sam Zu Yung, 32, was discovered unresponsive inside his single cell around 6:15 p.m. on March 31, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
Deputies and emergency crews performed life-saving measures, but Yung was later declared dead, authorities said Tuesday, April 1.
Yung had been in custody since Sunday, Feb. 16, held by the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office. His cause of death has not yet been released.
Polic…
Rideshare Ride Turns Violent In Fairfax County, Driver Charged: Police
A Northern Virginia rideshare driver is facing charges after allegedly assaulting a passenger during a trip through Fairfax County, authorities said.
Mohsen Moslehi-Nik, 64, of Centreville, was arrested Thursday, March 20, after turning himself in at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
Detectives say the incident happened Tuesday, March 18, when a woman reported that her rideshare driver attacked her while they were in the Fair Lakes area. The assault was reported to Prince William County Police, who worked with Fairfax detectives to…
Man Travels 2,000 Miles To Assault Minor, Walks Into Police Trap In Fairfax County
A Utah man who thought he was meeting a minor in Virginia was instead met by undercover detectives in a sting operation targeting online predators, officials announced.
Jonathan Craig O’Neil, 39, was arrested on Saturday, March 16 after he traveled to Fairfax County to sexually assault a minor, according to Fairfax County police.
O’Neil had been communicating online with individuals he believed to be underage, but, in fact, were detectives from the department’s Child Exploitation Unit who were on the other end, police said.
When he arrived in Virginia, officers were waiting.
His arr…
Husband Calls 911 To Confess To Stabbing Wife In Oxon Hill Before Fleeing To Virginia: Police
A Maryland man is behind bars after allegedly stabbing his wife to death, calling 911 to confess, and then fleeing to Virginia, authorities said.
Kenton Donaldson, 38, is facing first-degree murder charges in connection with the brutal killing of 33-year-old LeNaiya Donaldson inside her Oxon Hill apartment, according to the Prince George’s County Police Department.
The violent domestic dispute unfolded around 10:15 a.m. on Saturday, March 15, when a friend of the victim called 911 to report a disturbance inside the home on Kennebec Street, officials said.
Minutes later, police received a s…
Deputies Tackle Fleeing Spotsy Fugitive Fleeing In Stafford, Sheriff Says
A wanted man in camouflage thought he could blend in—but he didn’t make it far before authorities tackled him outside a Jersey Mike’s in Stafford County, officials said.
Travis Ward, 38, of Spotsylvania, was in North Stafford, driving a red Pontiac G6 despite having no license and multiple active warrants in Stafford, Spotsylvania, and Fairfax counties, leading to his demise, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office.
The chaos unfolded around 11:30 a.m. on Monday, March 3 when deputies learned that Ward was in the area.
Deputies spotted Ward heading west on Garrisonville Road…
Manassas Man Hits 100 MPH In High-Speed Chase With Woman Trapped In Car, Sheriff Says
A wanted Manassas man is behind bars after leading law enforcement on a dangerous high-speed chase—hitting speeds of 100 mph—with a woman trapped inside his truck, according to the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office.
Devante R. Payne, 31, was driving a Mitsubishi SUV westbound on I-66 around 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25, when officers with the Blue Ridge Gang and Drug Task Force attempted a traffic stop for improper registration.
But instead of pulling over, Payne floored it, sparking a reckless pursuit that reached 100 mph, investigators said.
The chase continued onto Leeds Manor Road, whe…
Missing Dad, 39, Found Dead After 9 Day Search: Fairfax County PD
The search for a missing man in Fairfax County has ended in tragedy, authorities announced.
Tamrat Gebremichel was reported missing after having last been seen on Jan. 5 in Springfield, Fairfax County police said. On Jan. 14, police announced that 39-year-old Gebremichel was found dead.
A GoFundMe says that Gebremichel was found dead in Alexandria. Further circumstances around the case have not been released, and police said only that no foul play was suspected.
"He leaves behind his loving wife, Feven, and their two young sons, ages 9 and 11," the campaign says…
