Skip to main content
Search
Services
U.S.

Officer slain in Virginia police station shooting

Suspect also killed; another officer seriously wounded

YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS

Follow the news that matters to you. Create your own alert to be notified on topics you're interested in.

Or, visit Popular Alerts for suggestions.

FALLS CHURCH, Virginia (CNN) -- A police officer was killed and two others wounded Monday in a shootout with a gunman at a Fairfax County, Virginia, police station, Fairfax Police Chief David Rohrer said.

The gunman was shot and killed on the scene, Rohrer said, and the female officer -- a nine-year veteran -- was pronounced dead at the hospital.

"This is the first officer we have lost to an assailant," the chief said, noting that his department had held a ceremony Monday morning for fallen officers elsewhere. (Watch the chief give details of the shooting -- 2:41)

"She was an exemplary detective for us. We love her greatly," Rohrer said.

"The other officer, who was seriously wounded, is still being treated," he said. "He is still in surgery. His family is with him."

The third officer, 28, suffered minor wounds and was treated on the scene, he said.

Police did not release the name of the officers involved pending notification of more family members. The name of the suspect was also not released.

Police spokeswoman Mary Ann Jennings said he was not carrying identification and was driving a stolen vehicle.

The suspect had attempted to take a pickup truck from a civilian but failed, she said. Minutes later, "he hijacked at gunpoint a van. That van was driven onto the parking lot at Sully station," she said.

The shootout began about 3:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the Sully District Station, in the country's westernmost district, said Rohrer.

The chief said the suspect drove up to the police station and opened fire, crouching between two vehicles. Police officers returned fire, he said.

Rohrer said that it wasn't clear whether police killed the suspect or he killed himself.

Rohrer said the gunman targeted the officers. Earlier reports that two gunmen were involved -- which had prompted a search of the area -- were erroneous, he said.

Jennings said the suspect carried a rifle and two handguns.

Story Tools
Subscribe to Time for $1.99 cover
Top Stories
Get up-to-the minute news from CNN
CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.
Top Stories
Get up-to-the minute news from CNN
CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.
Search JobsMORE OPTIONS


 
Search
© 2007 Cable News Network.
A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us. Site Map.
Offsite Icon External sites open in new window; not endorsed by CNN.com
Pipeline Icon Pay service with live and archived video. Learn more
Radio News Icon Download audio news  |  RSS Feed Add RSS headlines