Author: ARLnow.com

Launched in January 2010, ARLnow.com is the place for the latest news, views and things to do around Arlington, Virginia. Started by a Pentagon City resident who has spent the past several years working in local TV news, ARLnow.com seeks to distinguish itself with original, enterprising, up-to-the-minute local coverage.

Yet another loaded gun confiscated at National Airport security checkpoint

By ARLnow.com
Gun confiscated at DCA (courtesy TSA)

National Airport is on track for a banner year for gun confiscations.

A Maryland man was the latest to try to take a loaded handgun through the security checkpoint at DCA. With that Tuesday incident, Transportation Security Administration officers have now confiscated 23 guns so far in 2023.

At this rate, DCA would close out the year with 34-35 guns caught at checkpoints, up from 29 last year and 14 in 2019.

Guns confiscated at DCA so far this year (courtesy TSA)

“It is disappointing to continue to see travelers carrying their loaded guns to our security checkpoints,” John Busch, TSA’s Federal Security Director at DCA, said in a statement. “I’m grateful that our officers here and nationwide remain vigilant every single day.”

The full TSA press release is below.

A Bowie, Md., man was cited by police after he was stopped by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers with a loaded handgun at one of the checkpoints at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Tuesday, Aug. 29. The 9mm handgun was loaded with 12 bullets and was packed in the man’s carry-on bag next to another gun magazine, also loaded with 12 bullets.

The gun was caught as the man entered the security checkpoint. The X-ray unit alerted the TSA officer to check the carry-on bag, which was opened by police for a closer inspection. Police confiscated the gun and cited the man on state charges.

Guns are not permitted through the security checkpoint and now the man faces a stiff financial civil penalty from TSA. The penalty for carrying weapons can reach a maximum of $15,000.

“It is disappointing to continue to see travelers carrying their loaded guns to our security checkpoints,” said John Busch, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “I’m grateful that our officers here and nationwide remain vigilant every single day. Firearms should never be brought to the security checkpoint in carry-on luggage and travelers should certainly be aware of that rule, which has been in place for decades before TSA even existed.”

Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality and gun owners have a duty to ensure they are not violating any local firearm laws. Additionally, contacting the respective airline could reveal any additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.

Bringing a gun to an airport checkpoint carries a federal civil penalty because TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. Civil penalties for bringing a gun into a checkpoint can stretch into thousands of dollars, depending on mitigating circumstances. This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because a concealed carry permit does not allow a firearm to be carried onto an airplane. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online. Additionally, if a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck®, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges.

Last year, 6,542 firearms were caught at 262 out of 430 airport security checkpoints nationwide. Eighty-eight percent of those guns were loaded. So far this year more than 4,000 handguns have been stopped at security checkpoints by TSA officers.

Unsure if an item should be packed in a carry-on bag, checked bag, either or neither? Download the free myTSA app, which has a handy “What can I bring?” feature that allows you to type in the item to find out if it can fly. Or ask on Twitter or Facebook Messenger at @AskTSA. Travelers may send a question by texting “Travel” to AskTSA (275-872).

Passengers are only permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage. Firearms must be unloaded then packed in a hard-sided locked case. The locked case should be taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared. TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website.

Fairfax shooting suspect arrested by Arlington SWAT team

By ARLnow.com
Three people were shot outside Taco Baja in Merrifield on Aug. 26 (via Google Maps)

A man suspected of shooting two people outside of a taco restaurant in Merrifield was arrested in Arlington.

Arlington’s SWAT team arrested the 25-year-old man Sunday night at an address a block away from Wakefield High School.

“The suspect was taken into custody without incident by members of the Arlington County SWAT team in the 5000 block of S. Chesterfield Road on the evening of August 27,” and Arlington County police spokesperson tells ARLnow.

The arrest follows a shooting outside of a restaurant located along Route 29 just inside the Beltway.

More from our sister site FFXnow:

A man from Falls Church has been arrested for allegedly firing a gun into a crowd outside Taco Baja (7716 Lee Highway) in Merrifield.

Police say their investigation indicates that Jorge Armando Melendez Gonzalez, 25, approached a group of men standing outside the restaurant early in the morning on Saturday (Aug. 26).

“During the encounter, the suspect was assaulted by one of the men and the suspect opened fire into a crowd of people who were standing in front of the business,” the Fairfax County Police Department said. “The suspect then fled the area on foot.”

Police were called to 7716 Lee Highway at 1:51 a.m. for the reported shooting, according to scanner traffic on Open MHz.

Upon arriving, officers found two adult men in the parking lot with gunshot wounds. One of the men had been shot in the arm, while the other was shot in the abdomen, the FCPD says. Both men were taken to a hospital, one of them with injuries that police initially said were life-threatening.

Police identified a third victim when Inova Fairfax Hospital called 911 at 3:39 a.m. to report that a man had walked in with a gunshot wound to the arm, according to FCPD and the police scanner.

“Officers were able to determine the victim was related to the earlier shooting,” the FCPD said. “The victim’s injuries were considered non-life threatening and he was treated and released from the hospital.”

“Jorge Armando Melendez Gonzalez has been charged with three counts of Felony Malicious Wounding and three counts of Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony,” Fairfax County police said in a press release. “He is being held at the Adult Detention Center on no bond.”

“Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances that led to the shooting,” the press release adds. “Anyone who may have information about this shooting is asked to call 703-246-7800, option 5.”

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Aug 30, 2023

By ARLnow.com

Good Wednesday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Aug 30, 2023.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

🌤️ Thursday’s forecast

The weather forecast predicts a mostly cloudy day that will gradually transition to sunny conditions with a high temperature of around 78°F. Winds will come from the northeast at speeds of 11 to 13 mph, and gusts may reach up to 22 mph. Thursday night is expected to be mostly clear with a low temperature of approximately 60°F and a north wind blowing at a speed of 7 to 9 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart.”
– Jane Austen

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.

Listing of the Day: 2437 N. Quantico Street

By ARLnow.com
1/9

Address: 2437 N. Quantico Street
Neighborhood: Lee Ridge
Type: 6 BR, 6 (+1 half) BA single-family detached — 5,627 sq. ft.
Listed: $2,379,000

Noteworthy: Gorgeous, spacious home that meets buyers’ new home checklist!

Join Classic Cottages on Sunday, September 10th at its latest Tybee Model in Arlington’s Lee Ridge neighborhood!

This gorgeous home sits on a large 11, 355 sq. ft. homesite with a fenced yard. The 5,627 sq. ft. home features 6 spacious bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms, 4 of which are conveniently located on the second level. This home checks all the boxes for a new home buyer with its appointed main level including a main level bed/bath which could also serve as a home office. Also on the main level you will find a mud room, powder room, dining room, great room with gas fireplace, and gourmet kitchen with walk-in pantry and butler’s pantry.

On the lower level, you’ll find a spacious entertainment room with wet bar. Enjoy front porch sitting on the expansive covered porch. This is a beautiful must-see home if you or someone you know is in the market!

We hope to see you Sunday, September 10th!

Listed by:
Michelle Lynch — Urban Living Real Estate, LLC
[email protected]
(571) 366-3324

Man flashes gun during 7-Eleven robbery near Shirlington

By ARLnow.com
File photo

A 7-Eleven store near Shirlington was robbed early this morning by a pair of suspects, one of whom was armed.

The robbery happened shortly after 2:30 a.m. at the convenience store on the 2800 block of S. Wakefield Street, just down the hill from the Fairlington neighborhood.

A man and a woman allegedly each stole items from the store, and the man displayed a gun when a store employee tried to stop the woman from leaving, according to an Arlington County police crime report.

More from ACPD:

ROBBERY, 2023-08300027, 2800 block of S. Wakefield Street. At approximately 2:43 a.m. on August 30, police were dispatched to the report of a larceny just occurred. Upon arrival, it was determined Suspect One entered the business, collected merchandise and exited the store without payment. Suspect Two then entered the business and collected merchandise during which a store employee attempted to prevent her from leaving without payment. Suspect One, who was outside the glass door entrance, lifted his shirt, exposing a firearm and made threatening statements towards the employee. Suspect Two then exited the business with the stolen merchandise and fled the scene on foot with Suspect One. Officers canvassed the area for the suspects yielding negative results.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Arlington resident Eimad Saab does pushups as the sun sets in Rosslyn’s Gateway Park (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

FLOTUS to Mark 9/11 in Arlington — “[President] Biden will not participate in any of the observances at 9/11 memorial sites in New York City, Virginia or Pennsylvania. Instead, the president will stop in Alaska for a Sept. 11 observance at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson… First lady Jill Biden will lay a wreath at the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon.” [Associated Press]

Arlington Has Star Power — “Arlington may contain but 5 percent of Virginia’s population, but a new ranking says 60 percent of the top five living celebrities from the Old Dominion have roots in the county… Topping the list from Virginia was actress/producer Sandra Bullock, a graduate of what then was Washington-Lee High School.” [Gazette Leader]

New ‘Flagship’ Office in Rosslyn — “Genetec Inc., a Canadian security and technology company, is expanding to Greater Washington. The Montreal-based firm has signed a lease for part of the 25th floor of 1000 Wilson Blvd. in Rosslyn, where it is opening an office and showroom for its technology and security products.” [Washington Business Journal]

Program for Pooped Parents — “Need a night out without the kids? The TMAD Club (Teens Making A Difference) is hosting Parent’s Night Out where you can drop off your kids ages 5-10 for an evening of fun and games. The program is held twice monthly on Fridays through May, alternating locations between Lubber Run and Walter Reed Centers and costs $25 per participant.” [Arlington County]

Recycling Reminder — From Arlington’s Dept. of Environmental Services: “Curbside recycling in Arlington: the CliffsNotes.” [Twitter]

YHS Kicks Off Season With Win — “The host Yorktown Patriots began their high-school season with a victory, topping the W.T. Woodson Cavaliers, 21-14, Aug. 25 in non-district action. Yorktown rallied from a 7-0 first-quarter deficit to take a 21-7 lead, then hung on for the win.” [Gazette Leader]

American Airlines Fined — “The U.S. Department of Transportation fined American Airlines Group Inc. $4.1 million on Monday for violating federal rules by keeping passengers stranded on airport tarmacs for hours at a time in recent years — including incidents that occurred at Reagan National Airport.” [Washington Business Journal]

It’s Wednesday — Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms before 11am today, followed by partly sunny skies and a high temperature near 85°F. There is a 30% chance of precipitation, with a northwest wind between 6 to 11 mph. Tonight, it will be partly cloudy in the early evening, then cloudier later on, with a low temperature around 62°F. A north wind of 11 mph is anticipated, with gusts of up to 18 mph. [Weather.gov]

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Aug 29, 2023

By ARLnow.com

Good Tuesday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Aug 29, 2023.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Wednesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

🌦️ Wednesday’s forecast

Showers are likely mainly before 8am, accompanied by patchy fog. The day will be partly sunny with a high near 85 and a northwest wind at 7-11 mph. Precipitation chance is 60%, with minimal new rainfall amounts. Wednesday night will begin partly cloudy before turning cloudy, with a low around 63 and a north wind of about 10 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”
– Winston Churchill

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.

Sign up for ARLnow’s AI-written morning email

By ARLnow.com
Robots in a local newsroom (AI generated image by ARLnow via Midjourney)

ARLnow’s flagship Afternoon Update email newsletter gives you links to all of the local headlines of the day — up until 4 p.m., at least.

But what if you wanted a quicker way to breeze through local news stories for the previous day?

Now there’s an official option for that (in addition to the Early Morning Notes email for ARLnow Press Club members).

Today ARLnow is officially rolling out its AI-written morning summary email. You can get it in addition to — or instead of — the Afternoon Update here.

For existing subscribers, click “Update your profile” at the bottom of any email and select the option of “Add morning AI email.”

The morning email goes out weekdays at 8 a.m. and is completely written via AI, with only minor human intervention when necessary. Despite tweaks over the past few months, it remains somewhat overwrought and corny in its approach, but it does summarize stories pretty well.

This is, admittedly, a bit of a novelty for now. You shouldn’t use the AI-written email alone for decision-making purposes. But if you want to see an interesting showcase of current AI capabilities, while getting a quick summary of local news in Arlington, sign up here.

A recent ARLnow morning email

ACPD: Two seriously hurt in separate weekend attacks

By ARLnow.com
Police car speeding to a call at night (staff photo)

ACPD is investigating a pair of incidents this past weekend that left two people with serious injuries.

The first happened around 11 p.m. Friday on the 3500 block of Wilson Blvd in Virginia Square. That’s the same block as a 7-Eleven and a tobacco store.

According to police, a man trying to shoplift was confronted by an employee, who he then assaulted, causing serious injuries. A suspect was later located nearby and arrested.

More from an ACPD crime report:

MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 2023-08250310, 3500 block of Wilson Boulevard. At approximately 11:01 p.m. on August 25, police were dispatched to the report of an assault with injury. Upon arrival, it was determined the male suspect entered the business, collected merchandise and attempted to leave the business without payment when he was confronted by an employee. The suspect returned the merchandise and began to leave the store when he allegedly assaulted the employee, resulting in lacerations, and caused property damage to the business. The employee was able to move away from the suspect who then fled the scene on foot. The victim sustained serious, non-life threatening injuries and was transported to an area hospital. During the course of the investigation, the suspect was located in the area and taken into custody. During a search of his person, the suspect became combative and resisted officers. [The suspect], 33, of Burtonsville, Md. was arrested and charged with Malicious Wounding, Destruction of Property, Obstruction of Justice and Shoplifting.

On Saturday night, near the Arlington Mill Community Center along Columbia Pike, police say two male suspects beat up a victim while making threatening statements.

The victim was seriously hurt and the suspects fled the area, police said. The reason for the attack is unclear.

From ACPD:

MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 2023-08260296, 900 block of S. Dinwiddie Street. At approximately 10:47 p.m. on August 26, police were dispatched to the report of an assault with injury. Upon arrival, officers met with the reporting party who observed two unknown male suspects kick and strike the victim while making threatening statements. The reporting party then confronted the suspects who fled the scene on foot. The victim sustained serious, non-life threatening injuries and was transported to an area hospital. Officers canvassed the area for the suspects yielding negative results

Three nabbed during early morning high school burglary

By ARLnow.com
Police car at night (file photo courtesy Kevin Wolf)

A few kids got an early start to the school year by allegedly burglarizing Yorktown High School.

A burglar alarm alerted police to the break-in early Monday morning, just after midnight, ahead of the first day of the school year.

“Upon arrival, it was determined three juvenile suspects entered the building and were possibly still located inside,” said the latest Arlington County Police Department crime report.

“Officers established a perimeter during which two suspects exited the building,” the crime report continued. “During the course of the investigation, officers were able to make phone contact with the third suspect who subsequently exited the building. The suspects were searched and stolen property was recovered. The juvenile suspects were referred to a deferral program.”

The burglary followed another bout of back-to-school teen shenanigans last week, when a group of kids tried to abscond with Ronald McDonald from the McDonald’s at 4834 Langston Blvd. Police also arrived promptly and foiled that alleged theft attempt.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Looking south along the path above Gateway Park in Rosslyn (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Amazon Pushes Return to Office — “Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told company employees who defy his edict to return to the office for at least three days a week that ‘it’s probably not going to work out for you.’ Jassy made the comments during a meeting earlier this month during which he expressed frustration over the fact that some employees were not taking the return-to-office mandate seriously, according to the news site Insider, which obtained a recording of the CEO’s comments.” [New York Post]

ACPD K-9 Retires — “Please join ACPD in wishing K9 Astor a happy retirement as he finished his final tour of duty today. For over 10 years, he faithfully served the Arlington community and his fellow officers by making numerous criminal apprehensions, locating evidence, and protecting his handler. We are thankful for his years of service and wish him a happy and relaxing retirement!” [Facebook]

Campaign Season Kicking Off — “September kicks off a two-month sprint to Election Day, with a number of civic and advocacy groups announcing plans for candidate forums in coming weeks. The Arlington County Civic Federation will hold its annual candidates’ forum on Tuesday, Sept. 5.” [Gazette Leader]

County, Civ Fed Finding Way Forward — “The Arlington County Civic Federation and the Arlington County government… have seen friction in recent years, culminating in the adoption by Civic Federation delegates in March of a resolution highly critical of government transparency. Since then, it looks – from the outside at least – as if both sides are making an effort to bring comity back into the relationship.” [Gazette Leader]

Housing Debate in Fairfax County — “Several candidates running for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in November favor taking steps to make housing more affordable in the county, but no candidate has expressed support for duplicating Arlington County’s Missing Middle Housing plan that went into effect July 1.” [Patch]

W-L Dominates Opener — “The visiting Washington-Liberty Generals scored early and often against the host Edison Eagles on Aug. 25 in their 45-13 opening-game blowout victory in non-district high-school football action on Friday Aug. 25.” [Gazette Leader]

DJO Wins in Squeaker — “In the end, O’Connell held on to defeat the Virginia Academy Patriots of Ashburn, 10-7, Aug. 27 in non-conference high-school football action. The season-opening victory was the Knights’ first since the 2014 campaign” [Gazette Leader]

It’s Tuesday — A 50% chance of showers, otherwise mostly cloudy skies and a high of 83°F, with light northeast winds shifting east. Tuesday night, showers and possible thunderstorms are possible, with a low of 69°F and a 70% chance of precipitation. Expect light southeast winds and potential rainfall amounts between a quarter and half an inch. [Weather.gov]

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