Police shoot suspect after police chase ends on Fort Hunt Road

The SUV involved in the chase can be seen to the left of the U.S. Park Police car.

Update, 4:50 p.m. Saturday: The Park Police said this afternoon that the motorist remains in critical condition at a local hospital. No other new information was announced.

A man is in critical condition after being shot by U.S. Park Police following a chase that ended on Fort Hunt Road on Friday evening.

The chase began around 7:30 p.m. on the George Washington Parkway near Slaters lane in the City of Alexandria, when the SUV the man was driving was allegedly involved in a hit-and-run crash with another vehicle, according to Park Police spokesman Sgt. James Dingeldein. Approximately 12 minutes later, the pursuit ended when the suspect crashed at the intersection of Fort Hunt Road and Alexandria Avenue, Dingeldein said.

At that point the shooting occurred. Dingeldein did not know how many officers fired or how many shots were fired.

“This is an ongoing investigation,” Dingeldein said.

Dingeldein did not know if the man was armed or how he presented a threat to officers. No shots were fired at police officers before, during or after the chase, Dingeldein said.

The suspect’s vehicle ended up part way down a ditch on the side of Fort Hunt Road, just north of Alexandria Avenue. Dingeldein said no other vehicles were struck in the crash, and that the driver was the only occupant of the SUV.

The Fairfax County Police, who were involved in the police pursuit, were not involved in the shooting, Dingeldein said.

It’s unclear what route the chase took to get from the parkway to Fort Hunt Road. Dingeldein said more information would become available as the investigation progresses.