(Updated at 4:50 p.m.) A man has died after a shooting at the Mount Vernon Square apartment complex in Hybla Valley, the Fairfax County Police Department announced this afternoon (Tuesday).
Fairfax County police received a call just after 1 p.m. for a shooting in the 7400 block of Vernon Square Drive, the department said. Officers found a person with multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body.
The man was transported to a hospital, where he died from injuries that police said were life-threatening.
A “person of interest” was taken into custody. Police confirmed at a media briefing that they believe the person was the shooter.
At the briefing, Fairfax County Police Department Public Affairs Bureau Director Katherine Hayek said that the suspect had been “detained” at the scene of the shooting by a “good samaritan” who heard the gunshots.
“We do not recommend that the public step in dangerous situations,” Hayek said. “Our officers respond very quickly to the scene and were able to apprehend regardless, so luckily this man was safe and everything, but it was something we thought we’d bring forward as a community service.”
Police said they found two handguns at the scene but can’t confirm yet who they belonged to. The victim and shooter are both believed to be in their 20s, according to Major Eli Cory.
Cory said the bystander could be considered for a “good samaritan” award that the FCPD sometimes bestows.
“I definitely know that’s something we’re going to talk about awarding to this person,” Cory said. “We’ll see what happens here.”
The victim has succumbed to his injuries. Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau are responding to assume the investigation. A PIO is enroute to the scene.
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) August 30, 2022
