Auditor's Report Released For 2019 Burke Domestic Shooting

BURKE, VA — An independent police auditor's report determined a Fairfax County police officer's use of deadly force was lawful in an October 2019 barricade and fatal domestic shooting in Burke.

Police had responded to an Oct. 21, 2019 domestic violence call involving a gunman in the 6100 block of Wicklow Drive around 9 p.m. The incident was upgraded to a shooting call when a 911 caller screamed that her son was going to kill her. Two gunshots were heard on the 911 call, according to the independent police auditor's report.

Another relative, an adult nephew of the gunman, escaped and called 911. He reported that his uncle shot the nephew's grandmother (gunman's mother) and the nephew's brother. The nephew said he believed his brother was still alive in the house.

Responding officers organized outside the home in an attempt to make entry. Attempts to communicate or get the gunman to surrender were unsuccessful. Multiple calls to the home's phone number and the gunman's phone number went unanswered. Officers decided to enter due to the belief that a relative was still alive. A reverse 911 call was made to nearby homes requesting residents remain inside due to the barricade incident.

When the team of officers tried to enter through a sliding glass door, the gunman fired several gunshots. A second lieutenant fired several shots in the direction of the gunman and was injured when shrapnel or glass struck his eye. He was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries, and two other officers had minor injuries. The team decided to wait for a SWAT Team before making entry.

Around 11:06 p.m., a SWAT Team entered and found the two victims, Patricia Marie Bounds, 67, the gunman's mother, and Sean Patrick Bailes, 19, the gunman's other nephew. The gunman was also found dead due to a self-inflicted gunshot. He was identified as Marcellus William Bounds IV, 36.

Following the incident, the Fairfax County Police Department conducted a criminal and administrative investigation into the use of deadly force — the second lieutenant's use of his weapon. The police department concluded the use of deadly force did not violate department policy. The independent police auditor agreed in the new report.

In December 2019, the Fairfax County Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney said no criminal charges would be pursued against the officer or other involved officers. The deputy commonwealth's attorney stated that the officers were "victims of attempted capital murders" and they acted with "intent to save lives that night in the face of losing their own."

"The FCPD policies in place to address hostage or barricaded subject situations were followed during this incident, and they possibly prevented additional injury or death," the report states.

See the independent police auditor's report for the Oct. 21, 2019 shooting and other reports here.