A man was shot and killed at a gas station on Richmond Highway (Route 1) in Fairfax County early Tuesday, authorities say. The search for the shooter is ongoing.
Fairfax County police were called to the 6200 block of Richmond Highway, to a Citgo station just south of the Capital Beltway in the Fair Haven area, just after 6 a.m. The morning rush hour had just begun.
“We received a call about a male laying on the ground, bleeding from the head,” someone can be heard saying on an emergency response dispatch call.
Arthur Edward Mann II, of Fairfax, was pronounced dead on the scene with a gunshot wound. He was 38.
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News4 spoke off camera to the victim’s family, who said they were too devastated to speak right away.
Police said they believe the gunman may be in a dark-colored Ford SUV. County police alerted state police and officers in neighboring jurisdictions to look out for the suspect’s car.
According to the initial investigation, the gunman and victim may have had an argument at a gas pump. It wasn’t clear if they knew each other.
“Currently, right now, it’s still in the early stages of the investigation. The relationship between the two is still under investigation, but it seems to be an isolated incident at this time. As I said, it looks to be some type of dispute that occurred at the gas pumps that led to the fatal shooting,” Capt. Kent Bailey said.
Detectives are reviewing surveillance video and speaking with witnesses.
Antwan Mathis says he was at the gas station when the shooting occurred but didn't see what happened before the gunshots.
"Pop! Pop! Pop! And I ducked for cover, actually," Mathis said. "Ran to my car, man."
Doniel Drake, 44, of D.C., was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony, Fairfax County police said in an update Thursday afternoon. He is being held without bond. Police did not immediately say what led them to identify Drake as a suspect.
A silver SUV with Virginia plates was towed away later in the day.
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Police were expected to release more information. Anyone with potentially relevant information is asked to contact police.
Mann’s death marks the eighth homicide in the county so far this year, compared to 10 people killed in the same period last year.
A man was shot and killed by police near the same gas station in May 2023, after police said a U-Haul driver attacked an officer.
Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.
