50 To 75 Dirt Bike, ATV Riders Gathered At Shooting Injuring 2 In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Three people in all were injured in the two shootings within 15 minutes of each other in Alexandria Saturday night, according to police. One of the shootings injured two at a large gathering of recreational vehicles at adjacent Old Town gas stations.

The first shooting happened around 7:52 p.m. in the 3800 block of Florence Drive in the Arlandria neighborhood. A 26-year-old man was found with a gunshot wound and went to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

About 13 minutes later, police were notified of a shooting in the 700 block of S. Patrick Street involving people in recreational vehicles shooting at each other. In police photos, those gas stations appear to be Liberty and Speedway.

Assistant Police Chief Easton McDonald told reporters that Alexandria was notified by Arlington authorities of a group of recreational vehicles headed their way.

"If you live in the region, that this is not the first time that this has taken place," said McDonald. "Each jurisdiction has a plan in place for if it does come in. We did communicate with Arlington. We were aware of them coming into that direction. And they did come in and we had an officer there at the at that particular area where the shooting took place."

However, the shooting in the 3800 block of Florence Drive directed police resources to that location. When police were notified of the shooting in the 700 block of S. Patrick Street, the group of recreational vehicles had already left.

McDonald said surveillance cameras showed about 50 to 75 recreational vehicles, which could involve motorcycles, dirt bikes, or all-terrain vehicles. Police believe gunfire was exchanged from both gas stations where the vehicles were gathered.

A 30-year-old man was found with a gunshot wound near National Harbor and was taken to a hospital. The second victim, a 30-year-old man, was found at a hospital with a gunshot wound. Both have non-life-threatening injuries.

According to the assistant police chief, the Arlandria shooting is not believed to be related to the Old Town gas station shooting.

McDonald noted that it is illegal to ride recreational dirt bikes and ATVs on public roads in Virginia. A violation could result in a $500 fine.

"We are working to keep the streets safe with the traffic violations," said McDonald. "These vehicles are not to be on the road. They're not titled for the road. The code in Virginia the law says that these vehicles cannot be on the street."

Alexandria Police are looking for suspects involved in the shootings.

Anyone with information about the Old Town shooting at the gas stations can contact Detective B. Smith at 703-851-3545. Video, audio or images related to the shooting can be shared with police.

Anyone with information about the Arlandria shooting can contact Detective T. Griffin at 703-859-3271.