Man arrested for two brutal sexual assaults in Annandale

Police arrested a man for two brutal sexual assaults last week in Annandale.  

The perpetrator of both crimes is “a monstrous 23-year-old man whose crimes in Fairfax County are both abhorrent and inhumane,” Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said at a March 25 press briefing.

Kevin Lopez-Altan, of Annandale, was charged with a total of 12 violent felony offenses, including numerous counts of rape, attempted rape, abduction, and strangulation. He is being held without bond at the Adult Detention Center.

“Kevin Lopez-Altan is off the streets and facing criminal charges that I trust will keep him behind bars for the rest of his life,” Davis said.  

On Wednesday, March 20, at around 11 a.m., the suspect forced his way into an Annandale business near John Marr Drive after the 59-year-old owner told him the business was closed.

“The offender pushed his way inside and held the victim captive inside her own business for several hours,” said Capt. Daniel Spital of the FCPD Violent Crimes Division. “Throughout this nightmare, the suspect sexually assaulted the victim repeatedly and threatened to kill her if she didn’t do exactly what he told her to do.” This went on for eight hours.

“The victim found a moment when the suspect’s attention was diverted and bravely took that opportunity to escape,” Spital said. “She ran to a nearby business and asked someone to call for help.”

When detectives arrived on the scene, they found “an enormous amount of evidence,” including fingerprints, Spital said.

During the investigation, detectives learned that the Northern Virginia Community College Police Department was working on a separate case involving the assault of a 20-year-old student on the Annandale campus at about 8:50 p.m. on Thursday.   

That case involved “a lone female who was sexually assaulted by a suspect as she courageously fought him off,” said Chief Jake Jacoby of the NVCC Police Department. Another student nearby offered to help her and she was able to run away.

FCPD and NVCC detectives compared information and determined they were looking for the same man.

On Friday, an officer with the NVCC police received information from detectives on the suspect, including “unique tattoos and unique mannerisms.” He constantly moved his fingers around when he walked.

As a result, the officer was able to immediately identify a suspect. FCPD then determined the fingerprints from that suspect were an exact match with those from the suspect in the Annandale assault.

Detectives from both agencies then coordinated efforts on a manhunt for Lopez-Altan. After learning the suspect was known to hang out in various shopping centers in Annandale, FCPD saturated the area.

Around 1:20 p.m. on Friday, an FCPD sergeant located Lopez-Altan in the Heritage Center and took him into custody.

Davis said the NVCC officer who identified Lopez-Altan knew him from previous interactions with the suspect when the officer worked as a deputy with the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office. That officer “was absolutely instrumental in breaking this case wide open.”

Lopez-Altan “was certainly known to law enforcement but not extensively,” Davis said. Police believe the victims were chosen at random.

When asked why the attacks occurred, Davis said. “There is no reason beyond he is evil personified. …We can’t begin to explain criminal misconduct.”

Spital lauded “the bravery of the two victims whose courage to come forward undoubtedly prevented Lopez-Altan from striking again.”

“We absolutely, positively believe he would have struck again,” Davis said. “We know that from the way he interacted with our detectives. We know that from his demeanor, his disposition. I would be shocked if there aren’t other victims he left in his wake.”  

“These two acts were so brazen, so bold, so daring, that it would be hard for me to believe that he hasn’t struck before,” he said.

If there are other victims, the police want to hear from them. Anyone who’s been in contact Lopez-Altan should contact the Fairfax County Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 3, or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Solvers.