A man who shot at police officers during a chase that came to an end in Fairfax County has pleaded guilty to three charges.
Ricardo Singleton, 30, pleaded guilty on Oct. 16 to three counts of assault on law enforcement in Fairfax County Circuit Court.
As part of the plea agreement, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office will not pursue a charge of the use of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Singleton faces a mandatory minimum sentence totaling 18 months in prison for the three charges, according to state law. He may also receive a suspended sentence of up to three years under the terms of his plea — the penalty if he were to violate the terms of his release during a to-be-determined period.
Singleton was arrested on Oct. 6, 2022, in the West Falls Church area after being pursued by local police and Virginia State Police troopers down Route 50, from Arlington and into Fairfax County.
Then 27 years old, Singleton brandished a firearm outside of the Arlington County courthouse around 9 a.m. that day before fleeing the scene in a vehicle. A vehicle matching the same description was spotted around 7:39 p.m., igniting the chase.
Responding officers pursued the vehicle through Arlington and into West Falls Church, with Singleton striking an assortment of vehicles as he attempted to flee, police said.
Singleton also admitted to firing multiple shots from his driver’s side window during the chase.
Video from the scene shows Singleton exiting the vehicle at the intersection of Route 50 and Graham Road. He is seen aiming a firearm in the direction of officers while running through the roadway, with the muzzle flashing before gunshots are heard.
The suspect was ultimately taken into custody behind the Bestway Supermarket at 3109 Graham Road after his gun reportedly jammed.
In September, Singleton was sentenced in Arlington Circuit Court to a maximum of 15 years in prison for eluding the police and shooting a gun from a moving vehicle. Thirteen of the years are suspended, however, unless Singleton violates the terms of his probation during a five-year period, according to court records.
Singleton is scheduled to be sentenced in Fairfax County on Feb. 28.
