A drug-dealing suspect was shot by police and faces additional charges after allegedly brandishing an assault-style weapon at officers who came to serve a warrant at his home, police say.
A SWAT team arrived at the 7600 block of Lee Landing Drive about 10 p.m. Tuesday night to search the home and arrest a suspect on marijuana distribution charges, Fairfax County Police said.
David Vo, 24, of Falls Church, allegedly brandished the gun as officers entered, police said. A special operations officer shot Vo in the leg, police said.
“It’s a split-second decision, and I support the pull of the trigger by my officer because I don’t want to hindsight second guess here, but if we probably hesitated, I’d be dealing with a funeral right now for one of my officers,” Fairfax County Police Chief Edwin Roessler said.
Officers treated Vo on the scene before he was taken to a hospital, police said. He was then taken to jail.
No officers were reported injured.
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Vo's two young children — described by police as toddlers — and his girlfriend were in the home, police said. They were not harmed.
“We are blessed that no human life was lost in this matter,” Roessler said.
Multiple assault-style weapons, a pistol and unspecified narcotics were recovered from the home, police later said.
Police later identified the officer who shot Vo as Eric Crago, a 16-year veteran of the Fairfax County Police Department.
SWAT was called on to make the arrest because Vo has a violent past, police said.
“Mr. Vo is a convicted felon with a violent history, which includes domestic assault and shooting at a vehicle,” Roessler said.
The officer has been placed on administrative leave pending a criminal investigation by the Major Crimes Bureau and an administrative investigation, police said. Fairfax County Police say they will release the officer's name within 10 days.
Vo is being held without bond at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center on the initial charges including felony distribution of marijuana and failure to appear. In light of what happened during his arrest, he's been charged with additional weapons and drug crimes.
