Man who allegedly abducted woman, exchanged gunfire with police on I-95 faces attempted murder charge

A man who ended up in a shootout with state police and one Fairfax County officer after an extended chase on I-95 earlier this month has now been charged with attempted capital murder of a law enforcement officer.

Michael C. Davis, a 34-year-old man from North Chesterfield, was also charged on Wednesday (April 26) with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and eluding policy, the Virginia State Police announced yesterday. All three counts are felonies.

Served by VSP’s Fairfax office after consulting prosecutors in Prince William County, the newly announced charges come on top of a felony abduction charge against Davis. He’s accused of abducting a woman in Ithaca, New York, who was shot and killed during the gunfight with police on April 5.

According to state police, the encounter began at 9:40 p.m. when a trooper pulled over a Jeep Cherokee going south on I-95 near the Backlick Road exit in Springfield for having the wrong license plates on display.

“The trooper approached the Jeep, and spoke to both the adult male driver and adult female passenger,” police said. “It was not until the trooper returned to his patrol car to verify the driver’s information that he learned that the driver was wanted by New York State Police for abducting the adult female passenger.”

VSP’s account has been slightly revised from its initial report, which suggested the trooper was aware before he pulled the vehicle over that it was wanted for the abduction of 34-year-old Ithaca resident Tatiana David, thanks to a license plate reader alert.

Police say Davis fled south on I-95 “within seconds” of the trooper getting the notice about the vehicle’s connection to the abduction. The pursuit continued into Prince William County until the Jeep drove off the road and crashed into woods near the exit to Quantico.

“As soon as the troopers approached the SUV, Davis, who remained in the driver’s seat, began shooting at them. State police returned fire,” police said.

David died at the scene, though it remains unclear if she was shot by police or Davis. Her body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Manassas for an autopsy.

Also injured, Davis was transported for treatment at Inova Fairfax Hospital, where he was released on Tuesday (April 25), according to the VSP. He remains in custody without bond at the Prince William County Adult Detention Center.

A VSP spokesperson confirmed that the troopers involved in the shooting remain on administrative leave as the criminal investigation and a separate internal administrative investigation continue.

The Fairfax County Police Department said one of its K9 officers — seven-year veteran Pfc. Andrew Snow — also fired his gun while assisting in the pursuit. The department said earlier that Snow was “placed on modified restricted duty” but didn’t respond by press time when FFXnow asked if that’s still the case.

An internal affairs investigation by the FCPD and an independent review by the county’s police auditor are still underway.

No police were injured in the shooting. The VSP says two firearms were found at the scene.