Elderly Chantilly Couple Calls Police After Son, 51, Acts Unstable And Threatens Them

This story was updated at 5:20 p.m. with information from Chief Davis' news conference.

FAIRFAX, VA — A Fairfax County Police officer shot and injured a 51-year-old man who was pointing a bow and arrow at officers outside a Chantilly home Tuesday afternoon.

"For whatever reason or for a variety of reasons, this man was in crisis today," said Chief Kevin Davis, during a news conference later in the day. "That crisis prompted his parents to get Fairfax County Police involved in an effort to keep them safe. I think we did just that."

Earlier on Tuesday, an elderly couple contacted police after their 51-year-old son began behaving in an unstable manner and threatened them, according to Davis.

With the police's help, the couple obtained an emergency custody order issued by a magistrate. Officers then went to the couple's home in the 4500 block of Briarton Drive in Chantilly to serve the order.

At first, the officers tried to make contact with the man inside the home.

"A supervisor and a commander made a decision, which was the right decision to make, to back out of the home," Davis said.

After police repositioned themselves in an attempt to deescalate the situation, the man exited the home armed with a compound bow and arrow, which he pointed at police.

"That compound bow and arrow, make no mistake about it, is a deadly weapon," Davis said. "That arrow will go right through our ballistic body armor. One of our police officers, recognizing the deadly threat, discharged his firearm that struck the suspect in the upper body."

The man was then taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries, according to Davis.

Although police did not identify the man who was injured, Davis did say he had a history that was known to them.

"Imagine as a parent, having to get law enforcement involved because you're treated by your son," he said. "Certainly not an easy scenario."

Following standard procedure, the department will investigate the police-involved shooting. Davis said it was the department's intention to release body camera footage of the incident within a few days.

Ofc Involved Shooting: Prelim, officers were at a home in the 4500 blk of Briarton Dr, Chantilly serving an emergency custody order when they were confronted by an armed man. The offender was shot during encounter & taken to hospital w/life-threatening injuries. More to follow. pic.twitter.com/81wyvkTeqH
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) January 4, 2022