Alexandria Police Department Task Force Delivers Unprecedented Results In Shots Fired & Shootings Investigations

Press release from the City of Alexandria:

Jun 8, 2021 at 1:27 PM

Alexandria Police Department Task Force Delivers Unprecedented
Results In Shots Fired & Shootings Investigations

For Immediate Release: June 8, 2021

The
Alexandria Police Department has made tremendous strides in combatting the shots
fired and shooting incidents that spiked in late 2020.

A task force of dedicated detectives and investigators
from the Criminal Investigations Division has taken an unprecedented number of
firearms off the streets and held accountable the criminals in possession of
them. Since October 2020, the task force
has confiscated 39 firearms (handguns and rifles), made more than 35 arrests,
and executed over 195 search warrants on people, homes, phones, and vehicles.

Two subjects were arrested in connection with a
shooting incident on S. 28th Street on September 13, 2020. Some of the firearms recovered by the task
force were ghost guns. A ghost gun is an
unregulated, privately made firearm that lacks commercial serial numbers that
anyone can buy or build without a background check.

“This task force committed their time, energy and
resources to making our community safe by getting dangerous weapons and people
off the streets,” said Chief Michael Brown.
“I commend their hard work and dedication to achieve these incredible
results.”

The task force continues to actively investigate the
cases which led to its creation in October 2020. To avoid jeopardizing these active
investigations, the Police Department cannot release additional details to the
public at this time.

There have been 18 confirmed shots fired cases through
the end of May 2021. In 2020, during the
Covid-19 pandemic, there were 11 shots fired cases in the same period. There were 18 confirmed shots fired cases
through the end of May 2019. The Police
Department will remain vigilant and work to combat these incidents as we head
into the summer.

Residents who see or hear gunfire are urged to call or
text 911 immediately. Information may be
provided anonymously. The Police
Department takes every report very seriously and promptly investigates each one.

For media inquiries only, contact Amanda Paga, Senior
Public Information Officer, at amanda.paga@alexandriava.gov
or 703.746.6600.

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This press release was produced by the City of Alexandria.The views expressed here are the author’s own.