Police release footage from officer-involved shooting in Falls Church
The Fairfax County Police Department released a video from the officer-involved shooting Oct. 6 at Arlington Boulevard and Graham Road.
Police officers approached the suspect while he was shooting at them. One of the officers fired five rounds, said Police Chief Kevin Davis at a media briefing Nov. 2. None of the shots hit the suspect.
Ricardo Singleton, 27, of Arlington, was charged with use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and attempted wounding of a law enforcement officer.
“The officer perceived a deadly threat to himself and others,” Davis said. “He returned fire because his life was in jeopardy.”
The officer is on “modified restricted duty,” he said. The incident has yet to be reviewed by the commonwealth’s attorney.
The video is a compilation of footage from cameras in police cars, body-worn cameras, footage from two motorists who happened to be on the scene, and radio traffic between the Fairfax County and Arlington County police departments.
That morning, Arlington County police reported that a man was shooting at officers during a traffic stop. They obtained a warrant for Singleton and spent hours looking for him.
Related story: Police arrest active shooter in Falls Church
Arlington police found him that evening, but he fired multiple rounds at the officers and failed to stop. The pursuit headed into Fairfax County.
Singleton struck several vehicles rendering his car disabled on Arlington Boulevard at the Graham Road intersection. He got out of his car and fired numerous rounds at FCPD officers.
The cellphone videos taken by civilians show Singleton running toward a Shell station firing rounds. People inside the cars can be heard screaming, “Get down, he’s got a gun.”
FCPD body camera footage shows Singleton firing at police and running behind the Bestway grocery store on Graham Road, with officers running after him.
After police caught Singleton next to the Vinh Kee Restaurant, he was served with Arlington County’s initial warrants, as well as additional charges of felony eluding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, felony reckless discharge. and three counts of attempted malicious wounding of a law enforcement officer.
Singleton remains held without bond at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.
Police recovered his weapon, a Glock 17 (9mm) with an extended magazine. Two more loaded extended magazines were found in his car. “He was armed with 90-plus rounds of ammunition,” Davis said.
“This could have been a whole lot worse than it was,” Davis said. The intersection was crowded that night. There were pedestrians walking around and people at the gas station. “It was really fortunate that no civilians were harmed or worse.”
He said the officers showed grace and poise and “acted consistent with their training.”
6 responses to “Police release footage from officer-involved shooting in Falls Church”
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If the officer fired five rounds and did not hit the target, then our Fairfax police need more range time. Federal law enforcement has to qualify four (4) times a year. The military has to do it once a year for rifle and same for pistol (depending on job / use the pistol can me more often). I want our police to be safe when protecting us, but also need them to be highly proficient and accurate when they judge the need to discharge any firearm.
I hear you.
However, night, stress, moving target, considerable distance, pistol, concern about innocents in the background, firing in rapid succession.
A lot of factors against him that would have made it difficult for the most experienced shooter.
Not many training packages would have prepared him for all these circumstances at once.
But no argument that more training is a good thing, especially with crime increasing.
Exactly. By looking at how the officer holding the pistol I can tell his grip was wrong. Continues and quality training can train your muscle memory, as well as proper immediate reaction to an active shooter. More range time and scenario practices needed for the officers.
Bravo to our officers who once again demonstrate their professional skills in a shooting incident under difficult circumstances. And kudos to fellow citizens who took cover and especially those who took video of the incident. The shooting incident will be reviewed under specific criteria that will include the facts and evidence around the incident. The concern is 90 rounds of ammunition being in possession of an individual attracting police intervention and then discharging his weapon in several incidents. Clearly an individual with a mins set. Officers made an arrest and have unharmed citizens who lived to provide info and perhaps lessons and procedures to show that weapons qualification programs are working.
I just watched all of the footage and am immensely impressed at how FCPD handled this situation. Hats off, and to hear that they were relatively young and inexperienced as well. They should be very proud.
Great job by the FCPD during such a dangerous and highly active situation
and no one was killed or hurt!