ReportWire

Tag: loudoun county sheriffu2019s office

  • Loudoun County deputy shoots, kills armed man in Walmart parking lot, authorities say – WTOP News

    An allegedly armed man was shot by a deputy with the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in a Leesburg parking lot Tuesday, according to officials.

    A man was shot by a Loudoun County deputy on Jan. 6, 2026. (Courtesy 7News)

    A man suspected in an attempted bank robbery was fatally shot by a deputy with the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in a Leesburg parking lot Tuesday, according to officials.

    The man, later identified by county officials as 30-year-old Conner Peltzer, of Sterling, Virginia, later died in a hospital.

    The shooting happened in the parking lot of a Walmart in Leesburg as law enforcement tried to approach an allegedly armed man around 11:40 a.m.

    Loudoun County detectives, deputies and FBI special agents found the man in the parking lot of a shopping center in the 1900 block of Compass Creek Parkway.

    When deputies pulled behind Peltzer’s vehicle, he got out of the car with a gun, according to the sheriff’s office. That’s when deputies fired at him.

    “We never want to be in a situation where we have to fire on anybody,” Sheriff Mike Chapman said during a news conference. “It’s in a very populated area, fortunately we were on the back side of the parking lot.”

    The shooting happened away from the entrance to the store, where Chapman said there’s more foot traffic.

    No deputies were injured during the shooting, according to the sheriff’s office.

    According to the sheriff’s office, Peltzer was also identified as a suspect in an attempted bank robbery at the Bank of America at Dulles Crossing on Monday afternoon. 

    Deputies said the suspect threatened to use explosives during the attempted robbery. Law enforcement searched the building and nearby areas and determined it was safe.

    “A note was passed, it wasn’t responded to, he left the bank and he left without any money,” Chapman said.

    The Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney Office will investigate the shooting.

    WTOP’s Ciara Wells contributed to this report.

    Jessica Kronzer

    Source link

  • 3 Maryland men charged with stealing millions in copper materials linked to organized crime, deputies say – WTOP News

    Three men living in College Park, Maryland, have been arrested in a major copper wire theft ring operating in Loudoun County, Virginia.

    Three men living in College Park, Maryland, have been arrested in a copper wire theft ring operating in Loudoun County, Virginia.

    The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrests following an eight-month investigation that uncovered widespread construction site thefts resulting in $3 million in losses — mostly in Loudoun County.

    Sheriff Michael Chapman said the men are linked to an international organized crime group.

    “They’re a group out of Romania,” Chapman said. “They’ll commit the crime, cash out, travel back to their home country and try and get out of town as fast as they can.”

    The incidence of copper wire theft is frequent in the U.S., fueled by the high price of metal. Criminals can sell the material to scrap yards for a good price. But stealing the wire is dangerous. Many have been electrocuted trying to steal copper wire, and serious damage can be done to important infrastructure in the process.

    The suspects are identified as Alexandru Constantin, 43, Cristinel Petrovici, 38, and Robert Ciucur, 29. Loudoun County deputies, working in partnership with the Maryland State Police, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Army Criminal Investigation Division, carried out the operation.

    “We’re just happy we were able to identify this group,” said Chapman, adding the investigation is ongoing. “There are still some that look as though they are related to this Romanian organized crime group. We are hoping we can turn up even additional thefts that occurred from this group.”

    Each man faces charges of grand larceny and conspiracy to commit larceny, with the possibility of additional charges as the investigation continues.

    LCSO is urging anyone with information to contact 703‑777‑1021, or submit anonymous tips to Loudoun County Crime Solvers at 703‑777‑1919, or on the Sheriff’s Office mobile app.

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

    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Alan Etter

    Source link

  • Ashburn man charged with murder after his father was shot dead – WTOP News

    Ashburn man charged with murder after his father was shot dead – WTOP News

    An Ashburn man faces a murder charge after his father was shot dead Friday, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said.

    An Ashburn, Virginia, man faces a murder charge after his father was shot dead Friday, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said.

    Deputies responded to a report of a shooting in the 22000 block of Leanne Terrace at about 6:30 p.m. That’s where they found Jerome Edward Thompson, 50, of Ashburn, shot dead.

    The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said Thompson’s son, Jerome Edward Thompson Jr., 19, was taken into custody shortly afterward by deputies.

    Thompson Jr. is charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

    The sheriff’s office is asking anyone who saw what happened or has any information related to the shooting to contact Detective Schmidt at 703-777-1021, or submit anonymous information by calling 703-777-1919 or by using the sheriff’s app.

    A map of where the deadly shooting happened is below:

    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.

    Thomas Robertson

    Source link

  • Teen driver who caused deadly, fiery crash in Virginia is sentenced to 5 years in prison – WTOP News

    Teen driver who caused deadly, fiery crash in Virginia is sentenced to 5 years in prison – WTOP News

    Jose Padilla Espinosa was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison after he pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for his role in a deadly crash.

    The driver of a black Nissan Altima was traveling south on Route 28 when he crashed into the semi, causing it to overturn, and then crashed into a Toyota Prius, the sheriff’s office said. (Courtesy Loudoun County Fire and Rescue)

    An 18-year-old driver who authorities said rear-ended a semitruck in September 2023, causing a fiery deadly crash, has been sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter, according to local media reports.

    Cesar Yepez was driving a semitruck carrying food products southbound on Route 28 near Sterling Boulevard, when a speeding Nissan Altima driven by Jose Padilla Espinosa hit him from behind, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.

    The truck overturned and caught on fire. Bystanders rushed in to pull Yepez from the flames.

    But two weeks later, the 33-year-old father from Centreville, Virginia, died from his injuries.

    According to NBC Washington, Padilla Espinosa was driving as fast as 111 mph before initially hitting the semitruck.

    In court Thursday, Padilla Espinosa asked Yepez’s family for forgiveness, according to NBC Washington, which also spoke to Yepez’s widow Brianna about her 3-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter.

    “The kids are good. They’re good. They know about daddy not being here, but they’re strong, and we’ll get through it,” she told NBC Washington.

    After the crash last September, WTOP spoke to one of the good Samaritans who tried to rescue Yepez.

    “I heard the driver yelling for help,” Mark Pembleton said. “He was screaming, ‘I have kids, please help me.’”

    Pembleton sustained serious burns to his arms and head.

    “I looked down on my arms and saw how burned they were. The skin looked like it was melted off,” Pembleton said. “If it was any hotter, I don’t think I could have done it, because it was right at the point of where I thought I would instantly burst into flames.”

    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.

    Linh Bui

    Source link