Police Bodycam Video Released In Meat Cleaver Family Attack

FAIRFAX, VA — Fairfax County police released body camera footage of police officers fatally shooting a man armed with a meat cleaver who had attacked family members, killing two and seriously wounding a third.

Speaking at a news conference Thursday, Chief Kevin Davis said the footage showed an officer entering the apartment east of Fairfax City on Feb. 23 as 54-year-old Chhatra Thapa, armed with a knife, continued to attack his son-in-law, Santosh Basnet of Fairfax.

Before police arrived, Thapa had attacked both Mamta Thapa and Binda Thapa, Basnet's mother-in-law and wife, respectively. They were taken to a nearby hospital, where they were later pronounced dead, according to police.

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Although Binda Thapa and Basnet's one-year-old son was in the room where the attacks occurred, the child was unharmed, police say.

Police now know the weapon Chhatra Thapa used to attack his family is called a Dow, a Nepali chopping knife or cleaver, designed for butchery and cutting dense bones, according to Davis. The blade was about 12 inches long and the handle about 4 1/2 inches.

Police found no history of calls for service at the apartment, located in the 3900 block of Persimmon Drive. There was no criminal history associated with Chhatra Thapa.

When asked if police knew the motive for the attack, Davis said, “That's the $64,000 question. We don't have motive right now.”

Detectives and victim services specialists learned that Thapa had “a history of some challenges with mental illness,” according to the chief. Investigators had found no argument or confrontation the night before or that morning that would explain the killings.

“I'm convinced, the more I know about what happened on Feb. 23 and certainly, the more I watched that video, that if not for the actions of our police officer, heroic, decisive, disciplined actions, that we would have had two more victims on our hands,” he said.

Binda Thapa was found in the hallway screaming for help, which prompted another person in the building to call 911. The chief said one 911 call also came from the son-in-law before he went back into the apartment.

Inside, the chief said, the suspect had already killed his wife and attacked his daughter and had stabbed the son-in-law several times. He said officers also rescued a baby from the apartment and confirmed the child was not hurt.

Bodycam footage showed blood smeared on the apartment door and inside the residence as the child cried. Two officers went into the apartment, demanded Chhatra Thapa drop the knife in his hand, and then an officer fired multiple shots when Thapa did not stop.

Police identified Officer First Class Nicholas Brazones, a 2.5-year veteran assigned to the Mason Police District, as the officer who shot and killed Chhatra Thapa. As per department policy, he was placed on restricted duty pending the outcome of criminal and administrative investigations.

The surviving son-in-law remains hospitalized, and the child was initially with child protective services before being placed with a family member of the surviving victim, according to the chief.

Also See ...

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• New Details In 'Meat Cleaver' Double Homicide At Fairfax Apartment Released
• Victim Who Survived Meat Cleaver Attacks Speaks Out: Reports