Update on 10/13 — This developing story has been updated.
(Updated at 5:45 p.m.) The FBI is now investigating weapons found buried near I-66 and the Patrick Henry Drive overpass.
FBI agents, a representative from the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and Arlington County police are still on the scene, more than 8 hours after a VDOT construction contractor found the gun and called the authorities.
A gun, two “weapon parts” and PVC pipes were recovered from the ground, near a utility box, according to FBI Washington Field Office spokeswoman Lindsay Godwin said.
The FBI will likely keep the scene cordoned off tonight and continue searching the site tomorrow, Godwin said. Agents have been seen examining maps and walking through the cordoned off area.
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Since when are you not allowed to bury your weapons near 66?
I had always assumed the exclamations of “nice guns!” I hear when I run by Westover Park on the Custis trail were from some astute admirers. Now I’m disappointed.
That’s it, the Richmond should pass a law allowing a guy to hide his guns and explosives next to a highway and a middle school. I’m tired of the liberals taking away our rights!
this does seem odd.
They fail to mention the age of the guns. They have probably been there since before 66 was built. Anyone trying to ditch guns because of a crime wouldn’t have taken the time to preserve them in pvc.
I think the PVC pipe was separate from the guns and was suspected of being a pipe bomb.
If these guns were that old, they are wasting an awful lot of resources during some prett crappy weather. There has to be more to it than they will release. It is a shame they will not let the neighbors know what is going on. Shoud we be overly concerned for our kids’ safety. Those woods are their fort/playground.
The box in “4 of 9″ shows an “N-1″ CAR-15 stock poking out. It could be airsoft, it could be a Title I firearm, it could be a stolen Title II gun. There are no facts out yet.
I-66 was built in the 60s… firearms haven’t changed a whole lot since then.
I’m leaning towards Title I guns cosmo’d and stored in a cache site on public land.
KEV, you an armourer now too? There are no facts out, and it is a shame, those of us in the neighborhood have no way to know the level of concern that we should have. It should be fairly easy for the FBI’s PIO to share a little bit to put minds at ease, or to let us know we should be more concerned. As for all the airsoft speculation, I sure hope they are not wasting this much effort and resources on investigating toys.
Yes, I am an armorer.
I doubt very much that they could have been there “before 66″. That area was thoroughly dug up for the 66 project, and the excavation included removing a lot of homes, trees, and debris. Very little in the public right of way was left undisturbed. I think it is safe to say that the level of response indicates that they believe it to be a more current cache.
Please don’t move my Colt 45 (in a bottle not PVC).
BOO! The terrorists are coming. More security cameras needed EVERYWHERE.
The article said that the guns were found by VDOT workers…during the DAY? These guys only work at night…just to keep us awake…10pm to 4 am….I hate VDOT.
My son was jogging past Swanson on Tuesday…and saw four police cars behind the school next to the sports field. Then this happened Wednesday…Maybe there is more to the story?
The police cars at Swanson on Tuesday were for a scheduled lockdown drill.
My sister goes to Swanson. The lockdown drill was the day before the guns were found (Tuesday). The school was on alert (no full lockdown but they told everyone to be ready just in case) for most of Wednesday.
[...] ArlNow [...]
So does this story have any facts yet? Sure doesn’t look like it.
Also, ROFL at the guys rolling up the giant hard-copy black-and-white maps…it looks like they’re filming some ridiculous treasure-hunt movie or something. That’s the FBI’s current technology in this day and age?
Don’t be a doofus.
That is not a map, it is an aerial photograph. Such a print out will provide them a much better view than the typical iPad screen.
Right, clearly an aerial photograph, that’s what I intended to see. Regardless, not exactly sure I agree with your second statement. If they really care about mapping their location so muhc, they should bring in a trimble GPS and load the coordinates right into their laptops.
That is fine when collecting your details for the investigation, but the overhead view shows you what TO investigate.
38.880407, -77.138679, if you really care. I can google maps that from my basement – I used to walk by there practically every day for 3 years.
*** muffled ***
Help, they’re building the new third lane over me!
They are out there in force this morning and had two guys standing fire watch all night.
Still there as of 12PM.
They have now packed up and left. The agent said they believe they have completed their investigation and if they come back it won’t be anything like all that was out there today. He said to his knowledge they had found nothing further.
For my part it seems the facts have been released. VDOT workers found the suspicious package, it contained a gun and two gun parts as well as PVC pipe. There was interest in any military members in the community. Beyond that, it’s wait and see.
Was it just me, or was WJLA/ABC7 the only D.C. area TV station to cover this finding?
What is up with that?
They found my Manbearpig weapons cache!