Victim Who Survived Meat Cleaver Attacks Speaks Out: Reports

FAIRFAX, VA — A Fairfax County man has no idea what caused his father-in-law to kill two family members and then attack him with "meat cleaver" last month at an apartment complex east of Fairfax City, according to reports.

Santosh Basnet told News4 reporter Drew Wilder that his in-laws had moved in with him, his wife Mamta, and their 1-year-old son in November, after the older couple experienced issues back home in Nepal.

Early on Feb. 25, Basnet was clearing snow from his car when he heard a commotion inside the apartment building in the 3900 block of Persimmon Drive where he lived with his family, according to police. Running inside, he encountered a scene of chaos and carnage.

"I see my baby crying and running," Basnet told News4."I see some bloody stuff, and I see my wife near the door, the main door. I can see her head bleeding. She was saying, 'He killed. He killed all of us.'"

Grabbing his son, Basnet called 911, News4 reported. Entering another room, he tripped over his mother-in-law, Binda Thapa, who was lying in a pool of blood. That's when he encountered his father-in-law, Chhatra Thapa, who attacked Basnet with what police later described as a "meat cleaver."

By this time, police had arrived at the scene and entered the apartment, according to the incident report. Officers repeatedly told the older man to drop the knife. When Chhatra Thapa failed to comply, one of the officers shot him.

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

Both Mamta Thapa and Binda Thapa were taken to a nearby hospital, where they were later pronounced dead, according to police.

With his head stapled in multiple places and both hands wrapped from the elbows down, Basnet continues to recover at a rehabilitation center, according to News4.

Mamta Thapa and Basnet's son is staying with a relative who lives in Centreville, Annandale Today reported.

On Friday night, a vigil was held for the Basnet family at the Margate Manor Apartments, where the attack had occurred, according to Annandale Today. The event was organized by Prabha Bhattarai, founder and president of the PKP Tender Hearts Foundation, which helps support the local Nepalese community.

The Virginia chapter of the Non Resident Nepali Association launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral and medical expenses, as well as long-term support for Basnet's son.

As of 9 a.m. Monday, the campaign had raised more than $47,000 toward its goal of $100,000.

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 out come of criminal and administrative investigations.