Arlington Man Faces 6 Charges After North Arlington Gunfire

ARLINGTON, VA — A 39-year-old Arlington man faces six misdemeanor charges after police linked him to a series of shots fired incidents at four locations in North Arlington late Friday night and early Saturday morning, according to the Arlington County Police Department.

Eric Josef Schaefer, 39, was arrested Saturday afternoon, during a traffic stop near Military Road and 24th Street North. He was charged with three counts of reckless handling of a firearm and three counts of discharging a firearm in a public place. Police said no injuries were reported.

Schaefer is being held without bond at the Arlington County Detention Facility, according to police. Court records show that all six charges were filed Monday in Arlington General District Court. Each is classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor. An arraignment was scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday in Courtroom 3A.

Police Investigate Gunfire At Four Locations

Just before noon on Friday, officers responded to Military Road and 31st Street North after receiving a report of gunshots, according to police.

Additional reports of gunfire came from other locations throughout North Arlington. Responding officers searched the areas and recovered evidence of shots fired at four locations:

• 5500 block of 15th Street North
• 2400 block of North Quebec Street
• 1100 block of North Vermont Street
• Military Road at 31st Street North

Detectives with the department's Homicide/Robbery Unit launched an investigation, collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses. Based on that information, investigators developed a description of a suspect.

Officers located Schaefer the following afternoon and took him into custody during a traffic stop at Military Road and 24th Street North, according to police.

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Investigators believe the incidents are connected to an ongoing dispute between Schaefer and someone he knows. Police have not disclosed the identity of the other individual or explained the circumstances surrounding the dispute.

The events leading up to the gunfire remain under investigation.

Police described the shootings as an isolated incident and said investigators had found no indication of an ongoing threat to the community.

Court Records Detail Six Charges

According to Virginia's online court records, Schaefer faces three counts of reckless handling of a firearm under Virginia Code Section 18.2-56.1(A) and three counts of discharging a firearm in a public place under Section 18.2-280(A).

All six cases list Friday as the offense date and Saturday as the arrest date. The records identify Schaefer as an Arlington resident and indicate he remained in custody when the cases were filed Monday.

The court records reviewed Monday morning did not list an attorney for Schaefer or a disposition in any of the cases.

Schaefer is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Police are asking anyone with information or video footage related to the incidents to contact the Arlington County Police Department's Tip Line at 703-228-4180 or ACPDTipline@arlingtonva.us.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Arlington County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).