Police: Man shot by crossbow in Bailey’s Crossroads

Fairfax County police are on the lookout for an individual who apparently shot a man in Bailey’s Crossroads with a crossbow.

A caller told 911 shortly after midnight on Sunday (Oct. 15) that he was walking down Carlin Springs Road at Columbia Pike when something struck his back, like “he was shot with something,” but he couldn’t tell what it was, according to scanner traffic on Open MHz.

Officers and emergency medical services were dispatched to the 3400 block of Carlin Springs Road for the reported assault around 12:05 a.m.

Based on a preliminary investigation, police believe the adult man was shot with an arrow fired from a crossbow.

“The man was walking on the sidewalk when his backpack was struck by the arrow which continued into his back,” the Fairfax County Police Department said today (Tuesday) in a news release. “He was transported to the hospital due to injuries that were deemed non-life-threatening, and after receiving treatment, he was released.”

According to the scanner, the incident occurred near the 7-Eleven at 3420 Carlin Springs Road. The victim “didn’t see anything,” so no description of the suspect was obtained, an officer told the dispatcher.

Detectives with the Mason District station are continuing to investigate the incident. The FCPD asks anyone with information to contact the district’s criminal investigations division at 703-256-8035.

This isn’t Fairfax County’s first violent incident involving arrows.

On Jan. 4, 2022, a Chantilly man drew a compound bow on officers who had been called to help him get mental health treatment. One officer shot the man, who was hospitalized and later charged with felony assault and aggravated attempted murder against a law enforcement officer. Earlier this year, Fairfax County’s independent police auditor affirmed the FCPD’s determination that the use of force “was lawful and complied with departmental policy.”