FAIRFAX, Va. – A Fairfax church official has been charged in connection with a case of road rage that turned deadly and became the first homicide in the City of Fairfax since 2008.
Librado Cena is on administrative leave from St. Leo the Great Catholic Church where he serves as director of religious education, according to The Washington Post.
Cena, 57, reportedly told police he grew angry on April 16 when a man honked at him repeatedly at red lights.
Cena followed the driver, 63-year-old William Hays O’Brien, to a parking lot and hit him in the head, the Post says, citing court papers. O’Brien reportedly died about 10 days later from what doctors called a traumatic brain injury.
Cena claims the two exchanged blows. Surveillance video reportedly shows Cena striking O’Brien and O’Brien defending himself.
Cena is charged with aggravated malicious wounding as Fairfax County prosecutors review the case.
The Rev. David A. Whitestone, pastor of St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, tells WTOP the congregation is “shocked and saddened” by what has happened.
“All of us are struggling to come to terms with this disturbing event,” Whitestone says.
Whitestone says the entire church is praying for O’Brien’s family members and everyone affected.
“It’s a small town. We feel like we’re all one family,” Whitestone says.
Follow @WTOP on Twitter.
