A Virginia State Police trooper will not face criminal charges after a teen was shot with his gun in Kings Park West earlier this year.
There is no evidence supporting the idea that the trooper shot the teen. Rather, the teen appears to have disarmed the trooper during a scuffle and accidentally shot himself, Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano announced yesterday (Thursday).
“All available evidence indicates that [the trooper] did not fire his weapon, but that it was fired by the teen,” Descano wrote.
CA Descano’s report on the April 29, 2025 officer-involved shooting. pic.twitter.com/fSfZqdPwW1
— Fairfax DA Steve Descano (@FairfaxCountyCA) November 13, 2025
The unnamed 16-year-old, who resides in Loudoun County, first drew the eye of law enforcement after allegedly running a red light in Fairfax City and leading an officer on a “high-speed chase” early in the morning of April 29, Descano said.
Using a partial license plate recorded by the Fairfax City officer, two Fairfax County police officers identified and responded to the address of the vehicle’s registered owner. The state trooper, who was in the area at the time, also responded to the residence in the 9600 block of Maury Road.
Upon seeing police approach the house where the vehicle was parked, the teen allegedly fled on foot into a nearby wooded area. The state trooper then caught up to the teen, wrestling him to the ground.
“Once they hit the ground [the trooper] yelled ‘he’s got my gun’ and one second later the teen yelled ‘shoot me, shoot me,'” Descano wrote. “Approximately two seconds later … a shot was fired.”
The trooper and another officer then “both struggled for a few seconds with the teen, commanding him to release the gun” before re-taking possession of the firearm.
The teen, who apparently told officers that he “can’t go back” to the Loudoun County Juvenile Detention Center, was ultimately taken into custody. He was transported to a local hospital for non-critical wounds.
“Based on the conclusion that [the trooper] did not fire his weapon, he cannot be held criminally liable for use of deadly force,” Descano wrote. “His actions do not satisfy the elements of any criminal charges.”
