A man was shot and critically injured in Ballston this morning.
Police were dispatched around 6:15 a.m. Sunday for a report of shots fired in front of the Westin hotel. They found a man in his 20s shot in the lower body and several witnesses to the shooting, who said the suspects drove off in the direction of I-66, according to scanner traffic.
Numerous evidence markers and bullet casings could be seen on the road and sidewalk. Photos of the scene posted on social media, meanwhile, showed a blood stain on the driveway in front of the hotel.
Across the street, a window was shattered at the trendy coffee shop Gute Leute, which was surrounded by crime scene tape. An employee said the window was shattered by a stray bullet.
Police described the incident as an armed robbery.
“ACPD is investigating an armed robbery with shots fired in the 800 block of N. Glebe Road,” Arlington County police said in a brief statement. “One victim, an adult male, suffered a gunshot wound and has been transported to an area hospital in critical but stable condition.”
“Four suspects fled the scene in a vehicle,” police said. “Expect continued police activity in the area.”
Investigators were still on scene and the sidewalk in front of the hotel remained closed as of 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
Police released additional details about the shooting and the investigation on Monday afternoon. From ACPD:
The Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit is investigating a shooting that took place in the Ballston-Virginia Square neighborhood on the morning of September 15.
At approximately 6:14 a.m., police were dispatched to the 800 block of N. Glebe Road for the report of an assault with weapon. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male victim suffering from a gunshot wound and began providing aide. He was transported by medics to an area hospital and is in stable condition.
The preliminary investigation indicates the victim and another male exited a vehicle and were walking towards a business when the four suspects approached, brandished firearms and demanded their property. The suspects then stole jewelry and an undisclosed amount of cash. During the course of the incident, the suspects discharged several rounds striking the victim, and causing property damage to two businesses and a residence. The suspects, described as four Black males wearing all black clothing and face coverings, fled the scene in a dark colored sedan.
This remains an active criminal investigation and, at this time based on the preliminary investigation, does not appear to be a random incident. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit at 703-228-4180 or [email protected] or anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).
Hat tip to Dave Satter
