Man Accused Of Loading Rifle Near School In Burke

BURKE, VA — Fairfax County Police charged a man who allegedly kept loading a rifle in an area near Lake Braddock Secondary School early Thursday.

Around 1:10 a.m., police responded to a call about the man in the area of Lake Braddock Drive and Olley Lane. Officers located the man, who reportedly loaded and unloaded a rifle repeatedly. There was no indication that he shot the gun.

Michael Ghali, 31, of Fairfax, was arrested and charged with brandishing a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school.

According to Virginia law, the brandishing a firearm charge is normally a class 1 misdemeanor. It becomes a class 6 felony if the offense "occurs upon any public, private or religious elementary, middle or high school, including buildings and grounds or upon public property within 1,000 feet of such school property."