Fairfax County Police Identify Man Fatally Shot By Officers At Springfield Town Center

SPRINGFIELD, VA — The Fairfax County Police Department on Friday released the name of the man who police officers shot and killed in the parking lot of Springfield Town Center Thursday afternoon.

Christian Parker, 37, of Reston, who was wanted on charges in connection with an incident at his home on Sunday, was holding a gun while seated inside his car around 4:30 p.m. on Thursday when police officers shot and killed him, according to the police department.

Detectives from the Fairfax County Police Department's Fugitive Track and Apprehension Unit learned that Parker was in the area of the Springfield Town Center. Detectives coordinated with the department's Summer Crime Initiative team to help find Parker. This seasonal team of officers focuses on crime during the summer months.

Officers found Parker in the parking lot at Springfield Town Center and positioned their vehicles to prevent Parker from driving away. Parker entered his car as officers approached. Three police officers then told Parker to show his hands, according to police.

"Preliminarily, it appeared Parker reached across the passenger seat and retrieved a firearm," police said in a news release. "At least one of the officers observed a firearm in Parker’s hands and alerted other officers."

The officers then told Parker to drop the gun several times. Parker did not drop the gun, and two officers then shot him, police said. Parker was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died.

An arrest warrant was obtained for Parker after an incident on Sunday at his home in the 2000 block of Royal Fern Court in Reston. A family member told police that Parker stole a firearm from the home and pointed the weapon at a relative. Parker then fired the gun inside the home.

No one was injured in Sunday's incident at Parker's home.

Officers from the department's Fugitive Track and Apprehension Unit worked during the week to locate Parker, eventually finding him in the Springfield parking lot. Parker was wanted for possession of a firearm by a felon, larceny of a firearm, brandishing a firearm and discharging a firearm within a home, police said.

The two officers involved in the shooting have been identified as an eight-year veteran of the Franconia Police District Station and a two-year veteran of the Mount Vernon Police District Station. Both officers were assigned to the Summer Crime Initiative Team.

The officers have been placed on restricted duty pending the outcome of an administrative investigation by the department's internal affairs bureau. An independent review will also be conducted by the police auditor. The names of the officers will be released within 10 days, unless there is a credible threat to the safety of those involved or if additional time is required to thoroughly complete the risk assessment process, according to the department.

The police department also said it plans to release body camera footage and audio recordings within 30 days or "when it no longer jeopardizes the integrity of the investigation."

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