The suspect in Sunday’s killing of a South Lakes High School sophomore is under an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer.
Carissa Cutrell, a spokesperson for ICE, confirmed that the detainer was lodged Monday against 22-year-old Darwin Martinez Torres of Sterling. Torres is facing a murder charge in the death of 17-year-old Nabra Hassanen, who was attacked on Dranesville Road in Herndon early Sunday morning. Her body was found later that day in a Sterling pond.
Torres is a citizen of El Salvador living in the United States. An ICE detainer is filed to “identify and ultimately remove criminal aliens who are currently in federal, state or local custody,” according to the ICE website.
“ICE lodges detainers on aliens who have been arrested on local criminal charges when the agency has probable cause to believe an alien is removable from the United States,” Cutrell said, adding that Torres had no encounters with ICE prior to this case.
The Fairfax County Police Department believes Torres killed Hassanen after becoming enraged by the group of teens walking from McDonald’s toward the All Dulles Area Muslim Society following a Ramadan service. He chased after the teens, police said, and caught Hassanen. He allegedly struck her with a baseball bat before putting her in his car and taking her to Loudoun County, where police say he killed her.
Torres remains in custody at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. He has a court date set for July 19.
A 17-year-old Reston girl was killed early Sunday morning because a driver became extremely enraged, police say.
At a press conference Monday evening, representatives of the Fairfax County Police Department continued to fight rumors that Nabra Hassanen was killed because she was Muslim. Instead, they said, she was killed because of the quickly escalating temper of the assailant, who police say is 22-year-old Darwin Martinez Torres of Sterling.
Police confirmed Monday evening that a body found in a Sterling pond Sunday afternoon is Nabra. They say she was part of a large group of teenagers walking and biking back on Dranesville Road, toward the All Dulles Area Muslim Society, from McDonald’s at about 3:40 a.m. Sunday when the altercation began.
“Torres drove up to this group, and a male teen who was on a bike began arguing with Torres,” said Julie Parker, director of FCPD’s media relations bureau. “At that point, the group scattered. Witnesses say that Torres caught up with the group a short time later in a nearby parking lot and got out of his car armed with a baseball bat.”
The suspect began chasing the group of about 15 teens, Parker said, and Nabra was the one he caught. Police said they do not yet know why the suspect was so enraged, but that there is no indication that he had any particular bias against Muslims.
“His anger over that earlier encounter led to violence when he hit Nabra with the baseball bat,” Parker said. “Torres then took Nabra with him in his car to a second location nearby, in Loudoun County.”
Lt. Bryan Holland of FCPD’s Criminal Investigation Unit said that Nabra was assaulted a second time in Loudoun County before the suspect dumped her body and returned to the area of the altercation, where his car was identified by a patrolling officer and he was arrested at about 5:15 a.m.
Police believe the suspect acted alone, and they are not searching for any others. Torres is being held without bond.
Both FCPD and Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova said they stand with the Muslim community as some live in fear, despite police statements that no religious or ethnic bias was at play in this case.
“Law enforcement will not know for sure until all of the facts are uncovered in this case, and it is still an ongoing investigation,” Bulova said. “While the police work to uncover the motive, the fact remains that any violent murder is a senseless and hateful act.”
The case may be prosecuted in Loudoun County if the continued investigation merits such a move, police said.
Update: Police Not Looking at Teen’s Death as Hate Crime — The Fairfax County Police Department says the killing of a 17-year-old Muslim girl from Reston is not being investigated as bias-motivated. We are continuing to follow this story and will provide more information as it becomes available. [Fairfax County Police Department/Twitter]
Connolly Hosting Town Hall Tonight — Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) will host a town-hall meeting at Sunset Hills Montessori School (11180 Ridge Heights Road) from 7-8:30 p.m. tonight. The congressman will provide a congressional update and then take audience questions. [Eventbrite]
County Seeks Volunteers for Attack Prep — The Fairfax County Health Department has robust plans in place to respond to a wide-scale bioterrorism attack. Volunteers are needed to help with a training exercise Saturday, July 29. [Fairfax County Health Department]
County Office for Children Gets Grant — The grant will allow the office to work with high-quality family child care programs in areas of Fairfax County with concentrated poverty to provide preschool services for eligible children. [Gov. Terry McAuliffe]
Herndon Woman Sees Central Asia — Cathy Alifrangis says her special birthday journey to Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan was filled with culture, history and pleasant surprises. [Washington Post]
(This article was updated at 8:50 a.m. after FCPD announced that the killing is not being investigated as a hate crime.)
The All Dulles Area Muslim Society says it is “devastated and heartbroken” after a 17-year-old girl was killed near the mosque early Sunday morning.
The teen, who has been identified by family and friends as Nabra Hassanen of Reston, was a “dear daughter, sister and friend,” the ADAMS Center said in a Facebook post late Sunday night.
Police and the ADAMS Center both report the girl was walking with a group of teens along Dranesville Road early Sunday morning when a man exited his vehicle and assaulted and abducted Hassanen. The other members of the group were helped by “community members,” according to ADAMS, and directed back toward the mosque. ADAMS Center personnel contacted authorities in Loudoun and Fairfax counties, who began their search for the girl.
A suspect, 22-year-old Darwin Martinez Torres of Sterling, was arrested a few hours later when he was spotted “driving suspiciously” in the area of the abduction. A female body was found at about 3 p.m. Sunday in a pond in Sterling; the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will provide identification and determine the exact cause and manner of death.
“We thank both Fairfax County Police and Loudoun County Sheriff’s departments for their diligent efforts in investigating and apprehending a suspect,” the ADAMS Center said. “We call on law enforcement to investigate and determine the motive of this crime and prosecute to the full extent of the law.”
The Fairfax County Police Department says Hassanen’s killing is not being investigated as a hate crime.
We are NOT investigating this murder as a hate crime. https://t.co/f6TegmdKMR pic.twitter.com/mlGzrQfiMk
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) June 19, 2017
Hassanen was a sophomore at South Lakes High School, where counselors will be on site today. Counselors will also be at the ADAMS Center to assist anyone in need of support.
A vigil has also been slated for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Lake Anne Plaza.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
Image via LaunchGood.com
(This article was updated at 9:05 p.m. with information that the girl is believed to be a South Lakes High School student, and again at 9:45 p.m. after police confirmed the girl was from Reston.)
Police say a body found this afternoon is likely that of a Reston teenager who went missing after an overnight activity in the Herndon area, and a Sterling man is in jail facing a murder charge.
Tawny Wright, spokesperson for the Fairfax County Police Deparment, said during a media briefing that officers responded at about 4 a.m. Sunday for a report of friends who couldn’t find a member of their group. Officers initiated a search for a 17-year-old girl in the area of Dranesville Road and Woodson Drive, near an unidentified facility the teens had left.
“Our investigation has determined that she was out walking with her friends when, for some reason, they got into a dispute with a man driving a car,” Wright said. “We’re looking into the details of exactly what happened, but for some reason, the man got out of the vehicle and he assaulted one of the group.”
Wright said the girl who was assaulted was the missing teenager, whom she did not identify. After a search that was assisted by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, the grisly discovery was made at about 3 p.m. Sunday.
“Remains of a female were found in a pond off of Ridgetop Circle,” Wright said. “Detectives unfortunately do believe that was our victim, but the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will confirm the remains’ identity and determine the exact cause and manner of death.”
South Lakes High School sent an email Sunday evening saying it is believed the girl was a student there. Principal Kim Retzer wrote:
“Police are investigating the death of a teen who was reported missing earlier today. It’s believed that the missing teen is one of our students and while we await further news about this very sad incident, I would also ask that you refrain from engaging in rumor and speculation on social media about today’s events.
I wanted you to be aware of these developments and to inform you that we will have crisis counselors at the school beginning tomorrow morning. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim’s family.”
The Fairfax County Police Department reports of two cases of unlawful entry in Reston this past week.
The first was in the 2200 block of Castle Rock Square, between the morning of June 1 and night of June 3. Investigators believe the intruder entered the apartment by forcing their way through a door. Nothing was stolen from the residence.
The second was in the 11000 block of Villaridge Court, at around 2:20 p.m on June 8. The homeowner told police that her spare key was in the door, which was slightly opened. Some items in the home were moved, but nothing was taken.
In other crime reported recently by FCPD:
LARCENIES:
1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, property from vehicle
11500 block of Leesburg Pike, merchandise from business
12900 block of Centre Park Circle, medication from residence
1500 block of Crowell Road, property from residence
1800 block of Fountain Drive, credit cards from business
12500 block of Rock Ridge Road, license plates from vehicle
11900 block of Killingsworth Avenue, purse from business
2400 block of Masons Ferry Drive, package from residence
11100 block of South Lakes Drive, beer from business
STOLEN VEHICLES:
11900 block of Winterthur Lane, 1993 Honda Civic
Anyone with information about any of the incidents reported by FCPD should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).
Also last week, a Reston man police say had been drinking was arrested in Loudoun County. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office says it responded to calls of a drunk and disorderly man at 11:11 p.m. on June 8 in the 44000 block of Riverside Parkway in Leesburg. Eugene D. Shaw, 45, was charged with being drunk in public and was transported to the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.
Urban Planner: Reston ‘Not Like Its Plan’ — A Harvard University Graduate School of Design urban planning professor comparing the planned community of Columbia, Maryland, to Reston: “Columbia’s development stuck more closely to its original plan than did that of Reston,” which is “not like its plan in a lot of ways.” [Baltimore Sun]
Metro Continues To Be Understaffed — Commuting to work and hear the dreaded “train will be moving momentarily?” WMATA says it’s due to overwhelmed Rail Operations Control Center workers, and it needs to hire 33 more people in order to get things sorted out. [WTOP]
Temperatures Will Roast Us — Buckle up and stay cool. Weather forecasts starting Sunday predict scorching heat through Wednesday. Triple-digit heat indexes are predicted along with potential record-breaking temperatures. [Washington Post]
County Police Warning of Fake Gold — A Fairfax County man is out $9,000 after con artists targeted him in an elaborate scam. Mandarin-speaking scammers seem to be preying on the Chinese community by selling them fake gold. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Volunteers Sought for All-Night Grad Party — South Lakes High School’s graduating seniors will attend a post-graduation party from 10:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. — unless they don’t get enough volunteer chaperones. Anyone interested in helping out will need to participate in a training session next week. [South Lakes PTSA/Signup Genius]
Photo courtesy Reston Association
Fairfax County School Board Makes Referendum Requests — The Fairfax County School Board is requesting a school bond referendum for $315 million be placed on the ballot for the November general election. The money in the referendum would go toward a plan for a new elementary school in the Herndon area as well as construction, renovations and other work at numerous other schools. [Fairfax County Public Schools]
Metro to Retire All 1000 and 4000 Series Railcars by July 1 — Months ahead of schedule, WMATA announced that they will retire their oldest and most unreliable metro railcars by July 1. This is to make room for the influx of newer, chicer 7000-series railcars. [WMATA]
McAuliffe Coming to Lake Anne — Gov. Terry McAuliffe is scheduled to be at Lake Anne Brew House (11424 Washington Plaza W.) at about 4:45 p.m. Friday. The governor will be honoring the brew house for its three medals in the recent Virginia Craft Beer Cup. [Lake Anne Plaza/Facebook]
Meteor Was Visible Across DC Area — A fireball that briefly lit up the sky at about 10 p.m. Tuesday was seen across the region, including in Reston. [Capital Weather Gang]
Fairfax County Government Warns Against Gas Station Scammers — Fairfax County officials say there have been 21 cases at 15 gas stations where account information has been stolen via Bluetooth and money has been robbed. The scam is new and high-tech, and there are no warning signs. [Fairfax County Government]
File photo courtesy Ryan Goff
A Reston man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after allegedly touching himself inappropriately inside the Reston Regional Library.
According to the Fairfax County Police Department, the incident took place at about 3 p.m. Tuesday. Timothy W. Steele, 33, was arrested after being spotted.
Steele faces a charge of indecent exposure.
A 19-year-old Reston man is charged with stealing from a car over the weekend.
The Fairfax County Police Department says they were dispatched just after 2 a.m. Saturday when a homeowner in the 2000 block of Beacon Place called 911 after hearing someone in his garage. Responding officers say the found the suspect in a neighbor’s car, and he attempted to flee to his own car.
Police say they caught the suspect, Daniel Fleischer, as he was getting into his car. Evidence was found in the car, police say.
Fleischer was arrested and faces charges of burglary, destruction of property, possession of marijuana and being drunk in public.
Also over the weekend, FCPD says a midday armed robbery took place at the GNC Store (2451 Centreville Road, Herndon). According to the report, a man entered the store at 12:11 p.m. Saturday, displayed a knife and demanded money from an employee. The employee handed over cash, and the suspect fled the scene on a bicycle.
The suspect is described as white, around 5 feet 11 inches tall, with a slim build. He was wearing a red hat and khaki pants. The victim was not injured.
Late last week, FCPD reported an incident of a peeping tom in Reston. According to the report, a man returned home to the 12200 block of Laurel Glade Court just after midnight Wednesday and “saw someone standing next to the bedroom window of his apartment.” The suspect fled when he was seen, and officers were unable to locate him.
Other crime reported by FCPD in the past week includes:
LARCENIES:
2300 block of Bedfordshire Circle, package from residence
1500 block of Cameron Crescent Drive, electronic device from vehicle
1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, license plates from vehicle
1700 block of Clubhouse Road, wallet from business
13300 block of Coppermine Road, medication from residence
2700 block of Crystal Wood Court, property from residence
9800 block of Georgetown Pike, purse from vehicle
11900 block of Market Street, merchandise from business
2400 block of Masons Ferry Drive, bicycle from residence
1300 block of Shallow Ford, wallet from vehicle
11700 block of Stevenage Road, wallet from vehicle
1300 block of Stourhead Court, backpack from vehicle
STOLEN VEHICLES:
None reported
Anyone with information about any of the incidents reported by FCPD should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).
In Loudoun County, a 20-year-old Reston woman was charged Friday with stealing from the JCPenney store at Dulles Town Center. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office says Estefani A. Davis was charged with petit larceny and possession of burglarious tools. She was released from the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on an unsecured bond.
Crime reports provided by Fairfax County Police Department in the month of May, plotted in the interactive map above, show a wide variety of incidents through the Reston District Station. Use the icon in the top left corner of the map to toggle the types of crimes displayed.
In total, FCPD’s May reports included the following breakdown of criminal incidents in the area:
- 49 larcenies
- 3 armed robberies
- 3 burglary investigations
- 2 shoplifting arrests
- 2 commercial robberies
- 1 indecent exposure report
- 1 stolen vehicle
The three armed robberies took place in Reston within an hour and a half, between 12:23 and 1:50 a.m., on May 30. The two commercial robberies were part of a string of three (the other was in Loudoun County) in the early-morning hours of May 25.
Anyone with information about any of these crimes should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).
The Reston District Station of FCPD covers Reston, Great Falls and portions of Herndon and Vienna.
Fairfax County’s police reports are not comprehensive lists of every police event in the stated time frame. Addresses shown indicate blocks and not specific locations, unless otherwise noted. This data was compiled using the reports released by police between May 1 and May 31, meaning some of the incidents occurred in late April.
New Schools Superintendent Tabbed — Dr. Scott Brabrand, the superintendent of Lynchburg City Schools, has been chosen as the finalist to become the new superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools. Brabrand previously worked at FCPS in numerous positions, including assistant superintendent. The school board will give its final decision on the hiring June 8. [Fairfax County Public Schools]
Neurologist Charged with Distributing Pills — Ishtiaq Ahmad was arrested in Manassas earlier this week following a six-month investigation by the Prince William-Manassas-Manassas Park Narcotics Task Force. Ahmad, who also practices in Reston, is charged with distributing pain pills without performing medical exams. [Inside NoVa]
Details on Pedestrian Lighting Group Plan — In its most recent “Reston Today” video dispatch, Reston Association spotlights the work being done by the volunteer group to develop a plan to increase safety for walkers and bikers. [Reston Association/YouTube]
Restaurant Thanked by Fire Company — Vapiano (1875 Explorer St.) provided food for firefighters battling a blaze last summer. A-Shift from Station 25 recently presented the restaurant with a token of its appreciation. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Instagram]
Police Department Adds Another Former Journalist — Emilie Voss, a former television news anchor in Ohio, has joined the Fairfax County Police Department as the deputy director of the media bureau. Voss joins former WJLA reporter Julie Parker, who is the bureau’s director. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Fairfax County Police say three separate armed robberies took place in Reston early Tuesday morning, in each instance involving two men approaching the victims with a weapon displayed.
The first incident took place at about 12:23 a.m. in the 1900 block of Democracy Drive, in Reston Town Center. According to a report:
“A man and woman were sitting in a car when they were approached by two men. One suspect displayed a gun and demanded money. The victims handed over their cellphones and other personal belongings and the suspects fled.”
Only about 12 minutes later in the 2200 block of Colts Neck Road, another victim was robbed.
“A man was talking on his cellphone when he was approached by two men. One suspect assaulted him; the other displayed a knife. The suspects took the victim’s wallet and cellphone. The victim did not require medical attention.”
The crime spree continued at about 1:50 a.m. in the area of Glade Drive and Pinecrest Road.
“A man was sitting in his car on Glade Drive when he was approached by two men. One displayed a gun and demanded money. The victim handed over his wallet and cellphone and the suspects ran. The victim did not require medical attention.”
Police say detectives are “looking into the possibility” that all three robberies were committed by the same two suspects.
The only descriptive information provided came from the incident on Democracy Drive. The suspects in that robbery were both described as black men with their faces covered, wearing gloves. One suspect was wearing a red hooded sweatshirt and the other was wearing a gray sweatshirt.
Anyone with information should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).
Three More Pool Hours Each Day — Lake Newport Pool is opening each weekday at 10 a.m. and will continue to do so through June 23. The pool, which is open until 7 p.m., had been originally scheduled to open at 1 p.m. each day. The pool is closed on Fridays. [Reston Association]
Meeting on RTC North Project Tonight — Proposed redevelopment of Reston Town Center North will be the topic of a community meeting hosted by the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services along with Supervisor Cathy Hudgins from 7-9 p.m in the cafeteria at Lake Anne Elementary School (11510 North Shore Drive). [Fairfax County DPWES]
SLHS Runners Heads to States This Week — The South Lakes High School track and field team will participate in the state championships Friday and Saturday in Newport News. Last weekend, the team had strong performances at the North Region championship, including a record-tying effort by freshman Hannah Waller. [Reston Patch]
Reckless Gun Discharge at Chantilly Chick-fil-A — Fairfax County Police reports a 38-year-old woman was struck in the hand by a stray bullet while walking in the restaurant’s parking lot Tuesday afternoon. [FOX 5]
File photo courtesy Carole Burnett
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office has released surveillance video of a man wanted for an armed robbery at a Sterling 7-Eleven, and say the suspect may have committed similar crimes on Route 7 near Reston later the same evening.
LCSO says the 7-Eleven in Town Center at Sterling, just off Route 7 near the Fairfax County line, was robbed just before 12:30 a.m. Thursday. The suspect entered the store and brandished a firearm at an employee while demanding cash. He was wearing a black mask, black jacket, jeans and black shoes. He fled in a white vehicle.
Police say the incident was similar to two others that took place in Fairfax County just minutes later. The Fairfax County Police Department says those robberies took place in the 11500 and 11700 blocks of Leesburg Pike (Route 7), near Baron Cameron Avenue, between 12:30 and 1 a.m. Thursday. A weapon was “implied,” police said, and cash and merchandise were taken.
No one was injured in any of the robberies, police say.
In other crimes reported by FCPD in recent days:
LARCENIES:
1600 block of Bachan Court, license plate and credit cards from business
1900 block of Upper Lake Drive, kayak from residence
12000 block of Walnut Branch Road, speaker from vehicle
STOLEN VEHICLES:
None reported
Anyone with information about any of the incidents reported by FCPD should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).
Elsewhere in the area, a 49-year-old Reston woman was charged with assault and battery last week in the City of Fairfax after an incident at the Goodwill Store (9906 Main St.). According to police, the incident took place at about 2:35 p.m. May 23. A 45-year-old woman from Burke told police that she was assaulted inside the store. A warrant was obtained for Agnes B. Simb of Greywing Square, and it was served Sunday. Simb was released on her own recognizance.
Also last week, 32-year-old Herndon man was arrested in Fauquier County. Police say Steven Espinoza was arrested at about 10 p.m. Thursday on an outstanding warrant for possession of a controlled substance.
In addition, a Herndon teen was arrested over the weekend after he was found walking in a roadway in Loudoun County. Eashan S. Ahluwalia, 18, was charged with public intoxication after police found him in the area of Northlake Boulevard and Rim Rock Circle in Leesburg just after midnight Saturday night. He was released on a personal recognizance bond.
