Update at 2:05 p.m. — The police department just issued a press release about the shooting.
At approximately 8:11 p.m. on May 3, 2018, Arlington County Police officers conducting surveillance in the area of 12th Street S. and S. Edgewood Street attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle occupied by a male driver and a female passenger with outstanding warrants for probation violation. When officers approached the vehicle on foot, the male suspect ignored their verbal commands and struck police vehicles in an attempt to flee the scene. At that time, shots were fired by two officers, injuring the male driver.
Following the shooting, the suspects fled the scene by vehicle. While fleeing, the suspect vehicle struck and damaged a parked vehicle in the 2800 block of 12th Street S. Arriving officers established a perimeter and located the unoccupied suspect vehicle in the area of 13th Street S. at S. Irving Street. During a canvas, officers located the male suspect hiding underneath a vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers performed life saving measures before Arlington County Fire Department medics arrived on scene and transported the male suspect to Inova Fairfax Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries. Steven Best, 51, of No Fixed Address was arrested and charged with three counts of Attempted Malicious Wounding of Law Enforcement Officer.
Officers observed the female suspect hiding behind a bush in the 3200 block of 13th Street S. Officers provided lawful commands to the suspect and when she refused to comply, a K9 was deployed. The female suspect was then taken into police custody. She was transported to Virginia Hospital Center with minor injuries. Jessica Lary, 40, of Annandale, VA was held in the Arlington County Detention Facility on no bond for the outstanding warrants.
Three Arlington County Police officers were transported to Virginia Hospital Center for evaluation.
This is an ongoing and active investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective J. Trainer of the Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit at 703-228-4185 or [email protected]. Information may also be provided anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).
Earlier: Arlington County Police are on scene of an officer-involved shooting a block from Columbia Pike.
The shooting was first reported around 8:30 p.m.
Police say the incident started at the intersection of 11th Street S. and S. Edgewood Street, near the Rite Aid pharmacy, when officers tried to pull over a vehicle with a man and a wanted female suspect inside.
The suspect vehicle did not stop and subsequently struck a police car, said ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage. That is when the shooting happened.
“During the incident officers discharged weapons,” Savage said.
The man was shot and transported to the hospital in critical condition, according to Savage, while the female suspect was apprehended and also taken to a local hospital for an as-yet undisclosed “minor” injury.
Initial scanner reports suggest that at least one person had been shot multiple times in the stomach, while another person suffered a dog bite. Medics were initially dispatched to the intersection of 13th and S. Irving street.
At least two police officers were also taken to a local hospital for evaluation, though their injuries were not reported to be serious.
Television news footage showed a white cargo van, identified as a the suspect vehicle, being towed from the scene.
Savage described the current scene as an “active and fluid investigation” and said that investigators will be in the area “for a significant period of time.” Edgewood Street near the Rite Aid is currently closed.
It is unclear at this point how many shots were fired, where exactly the shots were fired nor what the female suspect was wanted for.
POLICE ACTIVITY: ACPD is investigating an officer-involved shooting at 11th Street S. at S. Edgewood Street. Two suspects have been transported to area hospitals. There are no outstanding suspects. ACPD remains on scene investigating.
— ArlingtonCountyPD (@ArlingtonVaPD) May 4, 2018
Photo via Google Maps