Arlington Man Fires Shots At Police During Chase Into Fairfax County

ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH, VA — An Arlington man fired shots at police officers and crashed into several cars as he drove the wrong way on Route 50 in Arlington Thursday evening before police eventually apprehended him near the corner of Graham Road and Route 50 in the Falls Church area of Fairfax County, according to police.

Ricardo Singleton, 27, shot "several rounds" at Arlington and Fairfax County police officers as well as Virginia State Police troopers using a semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said at a news conference Thursday night near the scene where Singleton was taken into custody.

"It was an absolute miracle no one was struck or injured or killed," Davis said. "We had several citizens that were absolutely in harm's way."

Arlington County sheriff's deputies first encountered Singleton when he pulled up in front of the Arlington County courthouse and police headquarters Thursday morning. He parked in a crosswalk, waved down two sheriff’s deputies, showed them a gun and drove away, police said.

The sheriff’s deputies followed Singleton to a nearby garage, where he told them he needed help, Arlington County Police Chief Andy Penn said at the news conference. When the deputies tried to take him into custody, Singleton got back into his car and sped away, police said.

The deputies followed him and saw him crash into parked cars, but lost track of him, Penn said.

The Arlington County Police Department was able to identify Singleton and filed charges for eluding police, brandishing a weapon and hit-and-run.

At about 7:40 p.m. Thursday, Singleton's vehicle was located in the area of Columbia Pike and N. George Mason Drive in Arlington. As police tried to stop the vehicle, Singleton drove off and started shooting at Arlington County Police officers, Penn said.

Singleton then drove the wrong way down Route 50 while trying to avoid traffic and caused a crash at Route 50 and Annandale Road in Fairfax County, ARLnow reported.

Singleton struck several cars while he was being pursued, and the police departments are "still tallying up the number of cars he hit," Davis said

His car became eventually became disabled on Route 50 in Fairfax County.

When his car stopped, and he got out at the intersection of Route 50 and Graham Road, Singleton "recklessly fired several rounds at officers" in an area with restaurants, gas stations, and many pedestrians, Davis said. Police eventually found Singleton hiding behind one of the stores in the area.

"What a day this was that started in Arlington," Davis said at the news conference.

One Fairfax County police officer fired his gun after he was fired upon, according to Davis. The officer involved in the incident has been identified as an 11-year veteran, who is assigned to the Fairfax County Police Department's Special Operations Division. Under department policy, the officer has been placed on a restricted duty status, pending the outcome of the criminal and administrative investigation.

After he was taken into custody, Singleton was transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and served with Arlington County’s initial warrants, as well as additional charges of felony eluding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, felony reckless discharge and three counts of attempted malicious wounding on a law enforcement officer, police said.

Fairfax County detectives obtained charges for two counts of attempted malicious wounding of a law enforcement officer and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Davis said his department will release body camera footage of the incident and the 911 call for service within 30 days in accordance with the department’s guidelines.