New Details In 'Meat Cleaver' Double Homicide At Fairfax Apartment Released

FAIRFAX, VA — Fairfax County police released new details Wednesday about a police-involved fatal shooting at a Fairfax apartment and related double-homicide involving a "meat cleaver."

Officers responded around 5:06 a.m. Monday to investigate the report of a domestic-related assault involving two victims at a garden-style apartment in the 3900 block of Persimmon Drive.

"Officers quickly arrived on scene and located an adult female victim suffering from stab wounds outside the apartment," according to the incident report. "Officers then entered the apartment and immediately encountered Chhatra Thapa, 54, of Fairfax, who was armed with a knife and kneeling over an adult male victim inside the residence. They also observed a second adult female victim suffering from stab wounds. Officers issued repeated verbal commands for Thapa to drop the knife. When he failed to comply and continued the assault, an officer discharged his firearm, striking Thapa."

The officers gave medical aid to Thapa and the stabbing victims until emergency medical personnel arrived, according to police. Thapa was pronounced dead at the scene.

The two female victims, identified as 33-year-old Mamta Thapa and 52-year-old Binda Thapa, both of Fairfax, were taken to a nearby hospital, where they were later pronounced dead, according to police.

A male victim was also taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, police say. As of Wednesday afternoon, he remains hospitalized.

A one-year-old boy in the apartment at the time of the attack was unharmed, according to police. He was taken into protective custody and FCPD's Victim Services Division, in coordination with Child Protective Services, arranged a family placement.

RELATED: Man Kills Daughter, Attacks Family Members With Meat Cleaver In Fairfax

"The officer involved in the shooting is a 2.5-year veteran assigned to the Mason Police District," according to the report. "As per department policy, the officer has been placed on a restricted duty status pending the outcome of criminal and administrative investigations."

While FCPD's Major Crimes Bureau investigates the use of force in this case, the Internal Affairs Bureau is conducting a separate administrative investigation, which will be reviewed by the independent police auditor.

"The results of the criminal investigation will be presented to the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney," according to FCPD. "In accordance with department policy, body-worn camera footage will be released within 30 days, and the officer’s name will be released within 10 days."

On Monday, Chief Kevin Davis spoke to reporters at the apartment complex where the attack occurred. He said Chhatra Thapa had attacked his daughter and wife with a knife resembling a "meat cleaver."

Chhatra Thapa used the same knife to attack his son-in-law, who was the male victim the officers saw being stabbed when they entered the apartment, according to Davis.

"I've been doing this a long time, as have all of us," he said. "That a person, a patriarch of a family, attempts to take so many lives in such a moment like this, thank God, doesn't happen here or elsewhere very often. But when it does, it reminds all of us that domestic violence can start at a really low level and escalate really, really quickly."

FCPD had not received any previous reports of domestic violence in connection to the apartment where Monday's attack had occurred, Davis said.