Armed Standoff On Richmond Highway Involved Woman Accused Of Abduction

HYBLA VALLEY, VA — A nearly two-day armed standoff that closed Richmond Highway in Hybla Valley began when police were asked to check on the welfare of a woman who may have been abducted, and the armed suspect fled in a vehicle.

Brittany Copelin, 29, of Charles County, Maryland, faces multiple charges in that state and in Fairfax County, including abduction. Authorities said she suffered a mental health crisis that hampered negotiations to surrender. One breakthrough came when she handed over ammunition in exchange for doughnuts.

In a news conference Thursday, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis explained how they encountered Copelin, and why the barricade took a day and a half to resolve.

The goal was to get Copelin to leave the gun, get out of the vehicle, be taken into custody and be given help for her mental health crisis, the chief said.

Davis noted a national trend of policing involving SWAT teams being sent in quickly to address active shooters, such as the recent shooting at a Nashville school. But with a barricade incident such as the one on Richmond Highway, police tried to "slow that down" since no one was in the vehicle with her.

"Barricaded persons typically are barricaded in a home typically. This was a barricaded person event that was inside of a car, but a barricaded armed person nonetheless," said Davis. "She was in the car by herself. She was certainly a danger to herself and others but no one else was with her in the car. So there was no immediate opportunity for her to cause harm to someone else."

The incident stemmed from Fairfax County Police receiving a welfare check request about a missing person from the Charles County, Maryland's sheriff's office. Police say the woman, identified as Copelin, and the 25-year-old victim had left the victim's Laurel apartment last Friday.

The victim's mother filed a missing person report two days later. City of Laurel police had warrants filed for charges of two counts of kidnapping, home invasion assault, first-degree assault, second-degree burglary, third-degree use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, handgun on a person, and loaded handgun on the person in false imprisonment.

The Charles County, Maryland, sheriff asked Fairfax County Police to check on the welfare of the victim in the 7200 block of Fordson Road. Davis said arriving officers were approached by the victim, who claimed she was abducted by Copelin. Officers attempted to approach Copelin in her Jeep SUV, but she fled.

The police chief said the vehicle stopped on Richmond Highway after a "low speed pursuit," but Copelin refused to leave the vehicle.

"As our officers approached the car, they saw her produce a firearm and ultimately, eventually, put it to her head, and she put it to her head on several occasions throughout this whole ordeal," said Davis at Thursday's news conference.

The police chief did not believe Copelin pointed the gun at officers at any time.

The barricade ended after midnight Thursday, at least 36 hours after the incident shut down Richmond Highway in both directions between Lockheed Boulevard and Boswell Avenue. The police department's Special Operations Division and Crisis Negotiations Team responded, as well as clinicians from the Merrifield Crisis Response Center who co-respond with patrol officers.

The Alexandria Police Department, Virginia State Police and George Mason University Police provided personnel to relief Fairfax County officers from long shifts.

Copelin was assessed by Fairfax County Fire and Rescue personnel at the scene before being taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.

Fairfax County Police charges against Copelin in the incident include two counts of abduction, two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and one count of a felon in possession of a firearm. She was held without bond.

Major Dalton Becker of Fairfax County Police explained how the drawn-out negotiations with Copelin went.

"We were actively communicating with her. At times, she would be communicating with us. Other times, she would not. The same thing over and over again," said Becker. "'You know, we're here to help we're not here to hurt you. We want a peaceful resolution. You know, come out, and we will treat you as fairly as we treat everyone. And, you know, we can get through this.'"

Davis said negotiators also asked Copelin if they could help put her in contact with family, or get something to eat or drink. Clinicians present in negotiations were able to bring in family members to speak to Copelin during the barricade.

At night, Davis said Copelin was panicking and taped paper to the windows so police couldn't see inside. However, the police were able to use drones to get closer to the vehicle than humans could.

One key breakthrough came when police recovered the magazine from the semi-automatic pistol in the vehicle. According to Davis, Copelin threw out the gun's magazine in exchange for doughnuts.

Davis acknowledged frustrations of some residents that the major roadway was shut down for so long.

"If any of our lives are disrupted in our habits and our routines, it gets us out of sorts a little bit," said Davis. "But imagine if that were your sister, your mother, your daughter, I think if you put yourself in the shoes of that family, you would be exhibiting more patience. And certainly the vast majority of people that we've come into contact with, applaud the patience."