News

Update 12 p.m. Police said the alleged assailant, a 15-year-old, has been arrested and will be charged with malicious wounding. The 16-year-old who was stabbed has had their condition downgraded to stable. Both teens were students at the school.

While Fairfax County Public Schools are testing out metal detectors at schools, Superintendent Michelle Reid confirmed that West Potomac High School did not have metal detectors in place.


News

Former Army soldier Stephan Smerk was given the maximum sentence — 70 years in prison — today (Friday) for the murder of West Springfield woman Robin Lawrence in 1994.

Smerk, 53, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder on Oct. 4 for stabbing and killing Lawrence in her home in an act of random violence.


News

A 16-year-old boy has been identified as the alleged perpetrator in the stabbing of a police officer in Fair Lakes yesterday (Monday).

The unnamed juvenile appeared to have charged at an officer responding to the scene in the 12800 block of Fair Lakes Parkway before attempting to strike him with a knife, according to footage released today (Tuesday) from police body and in-car cameras.


News

A man has been arrested after allegedly stabbing a Fairfax County police officer.

Officers responded to the 12800 block of Fair Lakes Pkwy at around 2:47 p.m. for a “suspicious person” after 911 received “several calls” from someone who was rambling, according to scanner traffic.


News

A Herndon man already charged with murder in connection with the killings of his wife and another man in their home is now facing new charges.

A grand jury indicted Brendan Banfield, 39, on one count of felony child abuse and neglect and one count of felony child cruelty for his actions on Feb. 24, 2023, Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano announced today (Monday).


News

A man was rushed to Inova Fairfax Hospital with critical injuries Tuesday afternoon after being stabbed at the McDonald’s in Bailey’s Crossroads.

Fairfax County police were dispatched to the fast food restaurant at 5603 Leesburg Pike around 2:19 p.m., according to police scanner traffic.


News

A man who fled the U.S. shortly after being accused of the 1991 killing of his estranged wife in West Falls Church will sit behind bars for the next two decades.

Jose Lazaro Cruz, 60, was sentenced yesterday (Thursday) to 20 years in prison for the stabbing death of Ana Jurado, which occurred more than 30 years ago in the 3100 block of Cofer Road.


News

The au pair accused of shooting and killing a man as part of a 2023 double murder in the Frying Pan area entered a plea deal today (Tuesday), ultimately pleading guilty to the amended charge of manslaughter.

It is expected that Juliana Peres Magalhaes will later be recommended a sentence of time served for the charge, so long as she cooperates with the county’s case against co-defendant Brendan Banfield, Deputy Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Eric Clingan said in court.


News

An ex-Army soldier has pleaded guilty to killing a woman at her West Springfield home in 1994, Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano announced today (Friday).

Stephan Smerk, 52, could face up to 70 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for stabbing and killing Robin Lawrence, a stranger, while he was stationed at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington.


News

The trial for a Herndon man facing charges in the slaying of his wife and another man will begin nearly two years after the killings occurred.

Brendan Banfield, 39, was indicted Monday (Sept. 16) on four counts of aggravated murder in connection to the stabbing of his wife, Christine Banfield, and the shooting of a man at their home in the Frying Pan area in February 2023.


View More Stories