Shooting Injures 2 Teens In Alexandria, Mayor Responds To Violent Crime Trend

ALEXANDRIA, VA — A shooting injured two teens in Alexandria Wednesday night, the latest incident as residents have expressed concerns about violent crime rising in the city.

The shooting happened in the 5400 block of Richenbacher Avenue. According to police, A 17-year-old male teen and 16-year-old male teen have non-life-threatening lower body gunshot injuries.

NBC Washington reported one home had been struck during the shooting.

There was no immediate information on suspects, although NBC Washington said police were seeking suspects that fled in a vehicle.

Police are asking for witnesses and any information in the case to contact Detective Jason Marable at 703-746-6883, Jason.Marable@Alexandriava.gov, or the police non-emergency number at 703-746-4444.

The shooting drew a lengthy response from Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson about violent crime in his June newsletter.

"We have continued to see several shooting incidents occurring throughout our City, including a shocking incident on the West End last night that left two individuals wounded," the mayor wrote. "Residents are certainly justified to be concerned about these incidents. This violence has no place in our City."

Wilson noted crime data reported to City Council in March showed violent crimes were overall down in Alexandria from 2021 to 2022, gun-related crimes increased from 76 to 152 incidents from 2021 to 2022.

Part I, considered more serious crimes against people and personal property, increased from 3,210 in 2021 to 3,361 in 2022. Larcenies represented the majority of Part I crimes and increased from 2,421 to 2,593. Auto thefts also increased, while homicides went up from two to six. Rapes fell from nine to eight, and aggravated assaults fell from 241 to 172.

The mayor noted Part I crimes have increased so far in 2023 compared to 2022, largely due to aggravated assault and larcenies.

According to Wilson, the city is addressing violent crime by working on increasing police staffing, expanding investments in areas like family supports and mental and behavioral health, expanding community policing, and advocating for legislation to reduce guns entering the city. The police department's staffing will be bolstered by the largest class of police officers at the academy. With other officers being trained, the police department will see a 15 percent increase in police officers in one year, according to the mayor's newsletter.

The city's recent budget also provided more funding for a police department special investigations unit focused on homicides, felony sex offenses and crimes involving weapons. According to the mayor, the unit has arrested 76 violent felons over 18 months, including one-third tied to gun crimes.

"Coupled with new investments in preventative (upstream) investments, we can buck national and regional trends and reduce violence and property crimes in our City," the mayor wrote.

Anyone who has information about a crime can contact police at 703-746-4444 or 911 in an emergency.