Driver shot by Va. state troopers after vehicle chase on I-95

The driver of a carjacked vehicle has died after being shot by Virginia state troopers on Wednesday night after a long car chase on Interstate 95 southbound in Prince William County.

At around 10:15 p.m., a state trooper tracked down a vehicle that the U.S. Parkway Police had reported in connection with a carjacking. U.S. Park Police had responded to a carjacking on Suitland Parkway in the area of Silver Hill Road at 9:45 p.m., about a half hour before the vehicle was identified on I-95.

The driver of the suspected vehicle refused to stop when a trooper tried to stop them, starting a pursuit.

The car chase continued southbound, with the suspected carjacked vehicle striking and overturning a state trooper car before being forced to come to a stop.

According to Virginia State Police, the driver didn’t listen to troopers’ commands and abruptly moved his hands, which prompted troopers to fire their weapons. The driver was killed in the shooting.

One passenger in the vehicle was flown to Fairfax Hospital and is in stable condition awaiting surgery. A third passenger is in State Police custody with no injuries.

The four troopers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave during the investigation of the shooting. The Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney will be reviewing the investigation once it concludes.

Southbound lanes from about Dale City to Dumfries on I-95 were blocked after the shooting at 10:45 p.m. Wednesday. Only one southbound lane reopened at around 6:30 a.m. Thursday, complicating the Thursday morning commute. All lanes opened up by 8:20 a.m.

WTOP’s Neal Augenstein contributed to this report. 

Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

Emily Venezky

Emily Venezky is a digital writer/editor at WTOP. Emily grew up listening to and reading local news in Los Angeles, and she’s excited to cover stories in her chosen home of the DMV. She recently graduated from The George Washington University, where she studied political science and journalism.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up