Man Gets Life in Prison for Machete Attack in Arlington

A 30 year-old man was found guilty Thursday of Aggravated Malicious Wounding in the Arlington County Circuit Court for a brutal machete attack on two victims outside of Central Library in June 2013, according to a news release from Arlington County. The jury subsequently deliberated and sentenced Derrick Sutherland, of no fixed address, to life in prison without parole, the county noted. Here’s more about the incident, from the news release:

On June 24, 2013, Sutherland approached the two sibling victims outside of the Central Library at 2:50 a.m. and began arguing with them. The argument escalated and Sutherland brandished a machete, which he used to strike each victim numerous times. Both victims sustained significant non-life threatening injuries and were transported to GW Hospital in Washington, D.C. Both victims sustained severe injuries to include the inability to use extremities and the loss of an eye.

Sutherland fled the scene immediately after the attack and remained at-large through the morning hours. However, through a collaborative effort between the Homicide/Robbery Unit and Patrol Division, officers were able to locate Sutherland in the area of Wilson Boulevard and N. Piedmont Street and take him into custody.

Detective C. Garcia was the lead detective and the case was prosecuted by Assistant Commonwealth Attorneys John Lynch and Lindsey Brooker.

PHOTO of Derrick Sutherland courtesy of Arlington County Police Department