Crime & Safety

Manhunt: Escaped Prisoner in Custody

Wossen Assaye reportedly overpowered private security guard at Inova Fairfax and stole the guard's gun, according to Fairfax County Police.

An armed escaped inmate from Inova Fairfax is back in custody after an hours-long manhunt, according to Fairfax County Police.

“An alert community member led to his arrest,” said Fairfax County Police Chief Ed Roessler.

Over the course of the morning, the escapee carjacked two vehicles, first near the hospital and later in Annandale. He was spotted exiting a bus in the area of Minnesota Avenue and 25th Street in Washington, D.C.

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Wossen Assaye was under the supervision of two private security guards when he assaulted a female guard after 3 a.m. Tuesday, according to U.S. Marshall Robert Mathieson.

A second guard fired one shot at Assaye. No one was injured in the shooting and Assaye fled the scene with the female guard’s weapon, according to Mathieson.

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Assaye is accused of 12 bank robberies in the Northern Virginia area since October 2013, according to the FBI. He was arrested March 20 and held at Alexandria’s jail until he allegedly attempted to kill himself on March 27, leading to his transfer to Inova Fairfax for observation.

There was a lockdown at the hospital for most of the morning as police worked to determine if Assaye was still on the grounds. And several roads were closed around Fairfax Inova Hospital during the morning commute.

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