Fairfax County police are investigating the death of a teenager who experienced a drug overdose while at her home in Seven Corners earlier this week.
Detectives have determined that the girl became unconscious while on a video chat with a friend from an apartment in the 2900 block of John Marshall Drive on Monday (Dec. 4), the Fairfax County Police Department reported today (Wednesday).
“The friend alerted a family member who found the juvenile unresponsive and called 911,” police said.
When officers responded to the scene at 6 p.m., they found that the teen was unconscious and not breathing. She was transported to a hospital, where she died.
The FCPD says detectives “found evidence of narcotic usage nearby.” Major Crimes Bureau and Opioid Investigation Unit detectives are collaborating on the investigation.
The fatal overdose was first reported yesterday by WJLA, which identified the teen as a Justice High School student based on a letter sent to the community by Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid.
The FCPD didn’t confirm the teen’s school, since the overdose didn’t occur on school property. FCPS deferred to the police department when asked for comment about the incident.
Earlier this year, the Fairfax County Health Department reported a concerning uptick in overdoses among youth, nearly all of them involving fentanyl. As of Oct. 31, there have been 50 non-fatal opioid overdoses by people 17 and younger, and there were three fatal overdoses in that age group as of June 30, according to the county’s data dashboard.
Last month, Gov. Glenn Youngkin directed local schools to notify families about school-related overdoses after Loudoun County reportedly saw 10 non-fatal overdoses between the beginning of the school year in August and November, including eight in three weeks at Park View High School.
In Arlington, two people were charged after a pair of teen girls were hospitalized for drug overdoses at Wakefield High School on Sept. 27.
The FCPD advises families to encourage open communication, awareness and education for both parents and children about the risks of drug use.
Know the Signs: Be aware of the signs of drug use, such as sudden changes in behavior, declining academic performance, changes in friend groups, or unexplained financial difficulties. If you suspect drug involvement, seek professional help immediately.
Secure Medications: Safeguard prescription medications at home, keeping them locked away and out of reach of children and teenagers. Dispose of expired or unused medications properly through safe at-home disposal methods or designated drop-off locations in your community.
Supportive Environment: Foster a healthy and supportive environment within your family and community. Encourage participation in extracurricular activities, hobbies, and sports, providing positive outlets for expression and personal growth.
Community Collaboration: Engage with community organizations, schools, and local law enforcement agencies to collectively address the issue of youth drug usage. Participate in neighborhood watch programs, community events, and initiatives that promote drug prevention, like the Fairfax Prevention Coalition. Share messages from the County’s Opioid Communications Toolkit with your neighbors, family and friends.
Sign up for a virtual training on how to recognize the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose and administer naloxone nasal spray to reverse an opioid overdose. After completing the training, individuals 18 and older will receive Narcan, fentanyl test strips and treatment information.
For life-threatening situations, community members should call 911, the FCPD says.
“Fairfax County Fire and Rescue personnel carry medication that can prevent deaths from opioid overdose,” police said in the news release.
Treatment services are available through the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB). The agency’s entry and referral line can be contacted at 703-383-8500, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The CSB’s emergency services line is available 24 hours a day at 703-573-5679, and the Fairfax Detoxification Center can be reached at 703-502-7000.
Students at schools across Fairfax County have or are planning to walk out this week in a show of solidarity with Palestinians suffering in the latest war between Israel and Hamas, the militant group that governs the Gaza Strip.
Dubbed a “Humanitarian Walkout Week,” the demonstrations began last Friday (Oct. 20) at Annandale High School and continued on Monday (Oct. 23) at Justice High School in Lake Barcroft. Organizers at Oakton High School reported that at least 200 students participated in their walkout yesterday (Tuesday).
Additional walkouts are expected at Edison and Mount Vernon high schools today, Woodson and Falls Church high schools tomorrow (Thursday), and McLean and Lake Braddock high schools on Friday (Oct. 27).
The walkouts are being organized by each school’s Muslim Student Association, though not all participants are members of those clubs.
In a press release, the students said they want an end to the bombing that Israel has unleashed on Gaza in response to the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, which killed an estimated 1,400 people and took over 200 people hostage, including the relatives of a Fairfax County native.
They also called for an end to Israel’s 16-year blockade of Gaza and an end to its occupation of the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank.
“We’ve been fighting with this for decades, and we’re scared into silence every time, but this time, we’re not going to be silent,” a student at the Justice High School rally said. “We will continue to speak up against the genocide and the ethnic cleansing that’s currently happening in Palestine. We will not stop until Palestine is free.”
Another student encouraged other attendees to “come together to come together to advocate for a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Palestine.”
“It is about recognizing that every life is precious and that peace is not a dream, but an achievable reality,” she said.
Supported by funding and supplies from the U.S., the Israeli military has unleashed hundreds of airstrikes on Gaza since the Oct. 7 attack. More than 5,000 people have been killed, the Gaza Ministry of Health has said, and over 1.4 million people have fled their homes, according to news reports.
The U.S. government has expressed continued support for Israel, its longtime ally, and resisted calls for it to back a ceasefire, including from the United Nations, some Congressional representatives and staffers, and Jewish activists.
U.S. officials have been involved in Israel’s hostage negotiations with Hamas, and in a visit to Tel Aviv last week, President Joe Biden urged Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, which was cut off from food, water, electricity, medical supplies and other necessities. A handful of trucks with aid were permitted this past weekend for the first time since Israel’s siege began, though the U.N. agency working with Palestinian refugees says the situation remains dire, particularly with fuel running out.
A poll released last week found that a majority of U.S. voters agree the government should call for a ceasefire and help deescalate the violence in Gaza.
“The red stripes of the American flag are painted in the blood of the countries we’ve stepped on to get to this point and we refuse to inherit a world where hate and injustice is fueled by greed,” Holly Raheb, a sophomore at McLean High School, said.
This year, Justice High School in Lake Barcroft has nearly 200 more students than it was designed to handle — an overcrowding issue that has driven plans to expand the school.
The Fairfax County School Board is seeking to add two buildings to the nearly 21-acre site at 3301 Peace Valley Lane. The county’s planning commission will decide whether to recommend approval of the project after a public hearing tonight (Wednesday).
A public hearing before the Board of Supervisors is scheduled for Aug. 2.
Built in 1959, the current school has 2,182 students, exceeding the design capacity of 1,994 students, school officials say. While efforts are underway to utilize other options to find space, the school board is seeking a long-term solution that would accommodate up to 2,500 students.
Overall, a three-story classroom building addition is proposed, along with a one-story expansion of the cafeteria.
Located in the northern part of the property, the roughly 45,000-square-foot classroom building will have new classrooms, science labs and special education spaces. The first and second stories will connect to the existing school building.
The latest parking plan departs significantly from initial plans to use part of a public park across the street for parking, which were not received well by community members who sought to protect green space.
FCPS has explored other alternatives for parking on the site, including a waiver from the county’s planning commission to reduce the number of parking spaces.
Construction of the addition will require the removal of 81 parking spaces from the school’s rear parking lot, but 20 parking spaces will be added back. As a result, the number of parking spaces will decrease from 329 spaces to 323 spaces in the immediate area. Bicycle racks will be added near the new building as well.
FCPS also plans to provide 37 on-street parking spaces on one side of Peace Valley Lane, bringing the overall number of parking spaces to 355. Those spots would be limited to one side of the road.
Currently, the school system is determining options for temporary parking if the construction project is approved.
The project is currently in the permitting phase, according to FCPS. It will be funded by a 2019 school bond referendum.
Fairfax County Public Schools won’t be back in session for the fall until Aug. 22, but Britepaths is getting a head start on helping students prepare for that day.
The Fairfax-based nonprofit is asking community members to donate money or backpacks for its annual Collect for Kids Back to School program, a month-long campaign that launched on July 1.
The organization’s goal is to collect 700 new backpacks and enough money to purchase supplies for 2,500 students, primarily in the Fairfax and Justice high school pyramids, according to a news release.
“Working families in our community who were already dealing with the effects of the prolonged pandemic have been further stretched by the higher costs of food, gas, rent and other necessities,” Britepaths Executive Director Lisa Whetzel said in a statement. “When you’re living paycheck to paycheck, the thought of having to find funds for school supplies on top of everything else is extremely stressful.”
According to the county’s most recent demographic report, more than 13% of families have a household income of under $50,000, including 4.2% who earn under $25,000 annually. About 31% of FCPS students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, as of Oct. 31, 2022.
Now in its 38th year of existence, Britepaths provides food, financial assistance, workforce development and other services for Fairfax County residents in need.
For its back to school drive, the nonprofit has partnered with several local businesses that will serve as donation sites for backpacks through Aug. 1:
- Alya Salon & Spa (139 Park Street, Vienna)
- Twins Ace Hardware — Fairfax (10310-B Main St, Fairfax)
- University Mall Theatres (10659-A Braddock Road, Fairfax)
- Sugar Mama’s Ice Cream (11208 Lee Highway, Fairfax)
- Cinema Arts Theatre (9650-14 Main Street, Fairfax)
- Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce (10304 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax)
All backpack sizes will be accepted, but large ones are most needed, per the news release.
Backpacks can also be purchased through Britepaths’ Amazon wish list. Monetary donations are being accepted online and as checks mailed to 3959 Pender Drive, Suite 200, Fairfax.
In addition, from July 11 to 31, Twins Ace Hardware, a sponsor of the program, will offer customers at its Fairfax City store the option to donate the change from their purchases to the campaign.
Schools that will benefit from the donations include:
- Fairfax High School Pyramid: Daniels Run Elementary, Eagle View Elementary, Providence Elementary, Willow Springs Elementary, Katherine Johnson Middle School, Fairfax High School, and Fairfax Adult High School
- Justice High School Pyramid: Bailey’s Upper Elementary, Glen Forest Elementary, and Justice High School
- Fairfax Villa Elementary School
“We are grateful to all who are donating this summer to help ease that stress for families and allow children who might otherwise go without be able to start off the new school year unashamed and with all the supplies they need,” Whetzel said.
