FBI takes over investigation of Park Police shooting on Fort Hunt Road

A Jeep SUV involved in the chase last Friday night can be seen to the left of the U.S. Park Police car.

This article was updated at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday to reflect new information provided by the Fairfax County Police Department.

The FBI’s Washington Field Office has taken over the investigation into the U.S. Park Police’s shooting of a man on Fort Hunt Road last Friday after a police chase.

A statement released by the FBI on Tuesday said that two Park Police officers were involved in the shooting. However no other new details were released, including information about the identity of the motorist who was shot, whether he was armed or threatened the officers, how many shots were fired, and what route the chase took.

“The U.S. Park Police and the Fairfax County Police Department are fully cooperating and assisting with the investigation,” the FBI’s press release said. “The FBI’s Washington Field Office will collect all available facts and evidence and will ensure that the investigation is conducted in a fair, thorough and impartial manner.”

The FBI said no other information would be released at this time, “as this is an ongoing federal investigation.”

The Park Police have released little information since the chase and shooting, which began Friday evening around 7:30 p.m. when the motorist was allegedly involved in a hit-and-run on the George Washington Parkway near Slaters Lane in the City of Alexandria. Park Police officers spotted the vehicle at some point (police have not said where) and a pursuit began. It’s unknown how fast the driver was going or what streets he took to get to Fort Hunt Road, but the suspect’s vehicle ended up crashed at the intersection of Alexandria Avenue and Fort Hunt Road around 7:42 p.m., according to the Park Police. 

Park Police said previously that no shots were fired at their officers during the pursuit. The motorist has only been described as a white male; his name and age have not been released. As of Monday he was still in critical condition at a local hospital, according to the Park Police. 

Fairfax County Police were also involved in the pursuit, but were not involved in the shooting. The FCPD has referred this reporter to the Park Police for more information about the chase, crash and shooting. The Park Police did not respond to a follow-up email on Monday seeking more information. 

Update: On Wednesday afternoon Fairfax Chief of Police Edwin Roessler released a statement about his department’s involvement in the chase and shooting. Roessler disclosed the following information:

• The FCPD had two officers who provided backup to the Park Police in during the pursuit Friday and at the scene of its shooting Friday
• No FCPD officers fired their weapons
• Roessler had the FCPD officer-involved shooting team to respond to the scene to investigate “out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with our protocols to understand and account for all the actions of our officers”
• The FCPD officers who backed up the Park Police during the pursuit are considered “law enforcement witnesses,” and remain on duty
• The FCPD has turned over its in-car videos to federal authorities investigating into the shooting