Launched in January 2010, ARLnow.com is the place for the latest news, views and things to do around Arlington, Virginia. The ARLnow staff byline is used for the Morning Notes and reporting done by an editor or other member of our full-time staff.
Arlington and the rest of the D.C. area are under a Dense Fog Advisory tonight.
After a foggy Tuesday, forecasters say conditions could get worse tonight, with visibility of a quarter mile or less. That could make driving hazardous across the region.
Shooting scene at the Rosslyn Metro station (staff photo by Jared Serre)
Outside of the shooting scene at the Rosslyn Metro station (staff photo by Jared Serre)
Outside of the shooting scene at the Rosslyn Metro station (staff photo by Jared Serre)
Outside of the shooting scene at the Rosslyn Metro station (staff photo by Jared Serre)
Outside of the shooting scene at the Rosslyn Metro station (staff photo by Jared Serre)
Outside of the shooting scene at the Rosslyn Metro station (staff photo by Jared Serre)
Outside of the shooting scene at the Rosslyn Metro station (staff photo by Jared Serre)
Police on scene of shooting at Rosslyn Metro station (via traffic camera)
Police on scene of shooting at Rosslyn Metro station (via traffic camera)
Shooting scene at the Rosslyn Metro station (staff photo by Jared Serre)
A man was shot by police at the Rosslyn Metro station near the start of the Tuesday evening rush hour.
The incident started around 3:45 p.m. when police were dispatched to the Safeway at 1525 Wilson Blvd in Rosslyn for a report of a man who pulled a knife on store employees. Around 4:15 p.m., the suspect was spotted by a pair of officers at the Metro station.
“Responding officers located an adult male matching the description of the suspect in the top floor of the Rosslyn Metro Station,” Arlington County police said on social media. “During their encounter, a struggle ensued and one officer discharged their firearm, striking the male.”
“Signal one, shots fired,” an officer could be heard saying on the police dispatch channel. “Suspect is down, he’s still conscious… we have him at gunpoint.”
The suspect was taken to a local hospital “with serious injuries” and “there is no ongoing threat to the community,” ACPD said. (The suspect was later pronounced dead at the hospital, police said Wednesday afternoon.)
“The two officers were transported to an area hospital — one with non-life threatening injuries and one for evaluation,” the department added. “At the request of Arlington County Police Department, the regional Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) was activated to investigate the incident. The investigation is ongoing.”
The shooting drew a large police response to the area, prompting road closures and the closure of the Metro station. The station has since reopened.
The best restaurants in Virginia, at least according to Washingtonian readers, are all in Arlington and Falls Church.
The magazine yesterday published its list of “Your Favorite Restaurants Around DC in 2024.” Under the “Best Restaurant in Virginia” category, readers chose three familiar local spots: Thompson Italian and Ellie Bird, both in Falls Church, plus Ruthie’s All Day in Arlington in the No. 3 position.
A bullet was found in an elementary school classroom yesterday afternoon and it’s unclear how it got there.
Police were called to Arlington Traditional School, at 1030 N. McKinley Road, around 12:45 p.m. Monday after a student reportedly found a bullet in a fourth-grade classroom. So far, the investigation has not revealed where the bullet came from.
Christmas lights in the Old Glebe neighborhood (staff photo)
Crash Caught on Camera — From Dave Statter: “This impatient driver ran off the road and crashed seconds after this maneuver. This was just after midnight on the ramp from 110N to I-66W in the Rosslyn area. If you look closely, you can just make out the car leaving the road. The two young men in the car apparently left the scene but called police and EMS a couple of hours later from the Exxon at Wilson Blvd and N. Rhodes St.” [Twitter]
Osprey Fleet Grounded Again — “The U.S. military is again pausing Osprey aircraft flights following a near-crash last month. This is the latest setback for the U.S. Osprey fleet, which was temporarily grounded last year following a series of fatal crashes in recent years.” Among those fatal incidents was a crash in Australia that killed a Marine from Arlington. [Axios]
Gun Arrest in Shirlington — “At approximately 10:24 a.m. on December 7, police were dispatched to Columbia Pike and S. Glebe Road for the report of a suspicious person. The preliminary investigation determined that the male suspect was allegedly acting disorderly and manipulating what appeared to be a firearm before leaving the area. A lookout was broadcast, and responding officers subsequently located the suspect in the area of S. Randolph Street and S. Quincy Street.” [ACPD]
Ballston Metro Meeting Tonight — “Plans for a new $177 million west entrance to the Ballston Metro station are beginning to solidify… A public hearing on the project is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Arlington Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street).” [ARLnow]
Options for Regional Transit Funding — A total of 15 different options, from regional taxes to longer toll hours on Interstate 66, are on the table as local leaders aim to find dedicated revenue streams to fund the area’s transit network. A consultant for the legislative subcommittee looking into the issue will put dollar figures to each of those options next year, with final decisions likely in 2026. [FFXnow]
Smart Home Open House — Alarm.com will host a free holiday open house at its Smart Home Demonstration Center in Falls Church, at 111 Pennsylvania Avenue, this Thursday from 5-7 p.m. The event is open to the public and will showcase the company’s latest home security technology alongside holiday activities including visits with Santa, complimentary treats, and a donation drive benefiting Northern Virginia Family Service.
It’s Tuesday — There’s a chance of rain in the afternoon, with otherwise cloudy skies and a high around 61. Tuesday night brings rain, potentially heavy, a low of 55, south winds at 7-10 mph, and a 100% chance of precipitation; new rainfall may reach up to three quarters of an inch. [NWS]
Expect a slim chance of rain after 1pm, cloudy skies, and a high around 61 with calm winds picking up to 5-7 mph from the south later in the day; 20% probability of precipitation. Tuesday night brings rain, potentially heavy, a low of 55, south winds at 7-10 mph, and a 100% chance of precipitation; new rainfall may reach up to three quarters of an inch. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.” – Albert Camus
"Proud Southie" t-shirt and tank top from the ARLnow Shop
By popular demand, we’ve added a pair of tops to the ARLnow Shop to celebrate the bottom half of Arlington County.
Following last week’s announcement of three new shirts comes two more, each touting one’s pride in South Arlington, as suggested to us by readers. These “Proud Southie” tops come in two varieties:
Saturday night’s spectacular sunset, in Clarendon (courtesy George Brazier)
Spotlight on Walkable Neighborhoods — “Clarendon is a ’15-minute neighborhood’ — you can walk to whatever you need in 15 minutes or less. Building more such neighborhoods, proponents say, would cut pollution and conserve nature. But do Americans want them?” [Washington Post]
TikTok Boosting Needlepoint Shop — “Waste Knot Needlepoint owner Lori Mazza started noticing an influx of customers during the pandemic. Popularity hasn’t waned since. The Arlington, Virginia-based needlepoint shop has always attracted crafters of all ages, but younger people are starting to take up a large share of their customer base, Mazza says.” [Axios]
Local Republicans Feud With Nextdoor — From the Arlington GOP: “We didn’t want to go to war with @Nextdoor, but they forced our hand.” [Twitter]
Weekend House Fire — “No injuries reported from this house fire near Thomas Jefferson Middle School.” [Twitter]
Wrong-Way Weekend in Arlington — From Dave Statter: “It must be wrong way weekend. @PFPAOfficial officers followed and stopped a driver going the wrong way out of the Pentagon on S. Fern Street just after midnight . A little roadside skills test apparently didn’t go well and the handcuffs came out. Earlier, we have video of a driver who insisted on going the wrong way on Wilson Blvd. in Rosslyn.” [Twitter]
It’s Monday — Expect rain primarily between 7am and 1pm, with a high temperature of around 52°F. The southeast wind of 5 to 9 mph will shift to the south in the afternoon. There’s a 90% chance of precipitation, with new amounts ranging between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. As for Monday night, anticipate mostly cloudy conditions and a low temperature near 43°F. [NWS]
Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. ARLnow has been in an Industrious office for years and we love the convenience — you get to focus on your work rather than worrying about brewing your own coffee or keeping the copy machine stocked. Industrious has several Metro-accessible coworking locations in Arlington.
"Fire pit closed due to elevated fire danger warnings" sign amid dry fallen leaves at Lacey Woods Park, November 2024 (staff photo)
Expect more dry weather and gusty winds this weekend, and an elevated fire danger as a result.
Humidity levels are low and falling, contributing to the brush fire risk. Already, across the river, D.C. firefighters battled a brush fire Saturday morning in Rock Creek Park.
Expect predominantly sunny conditions with temperatures reaching up to 40°F, accompanied by a westward wind blowing at 6 to 8 mph. Following that, Saturday night will be mostly cloudy as temperatures dip to around 31°F, while winds shift to a southerly direction at approximately 6 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” – Lao Tzu
We hope you have a great weekend, Arlington! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋
