Police, Helicopter Respond to 'Suspicious Noise' Reports in Annandale Monday

Multiple reports early Monday morning of a popping noise drew police and the Fairfax County Police Department helicopter to the neighborhood around the .

According to Capt. Gun Lee, commander of the Mason District station, police received three phone calls on Monday, March 12 around 3:58 a.m. regarding a suspicious noise. Lee said one resident reported hearing a popping noise, another said they heard a noise similar to a firecracker and another resident said they thought they heard gunshots.

Officers were dispatched from the station into the neighborhood as a safety precaution in case the noise turned out to be gunshots. Lee said they did send up the helicopter in order to help the police officers patrol the area while they searched.

Lee said the search lasted between 45 minutes and an hour, but the officers did not find evidence of a shooting; they did not find shell casings or other evidence that a gun had been fired. There was no damage to property.

Lee said he was glad that the citizens of Mason District alerted the police to the noise and that no one was injured. He encourages residents to reach out to the police whenever they hear something suspicious.