🌱 Suspect Dead After Theft + Pilot AP Courses At Fairfax Schools

Hello again, hello! It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Centreville Patch newsletter. Let's get this Monday started off right with a quick review of everything you need to know about what's happening these days in town, including updates on:

• Suspect dead after theft at Nordstrom
• Fairfax County Schools to offer AP African American Studies courses
• Highlights from Northern Virginia basketball region semifinal

But first, your local weather:

• Monday: A couple of afternoon showers. High: 48 Low: 39.
• Tuesday: Breezy in the afternoon. High: 62 Low: 35.
• Wednesday: Mild with clouds and sun. High: 62 Low: 49.
• Thursday: A couple of showers. High: 68 Low: 38.

🏘️ Looking to differentiate yourself from other real estate agents in Centreville? Partner with the Centreville Patch and gain access to a targeted, engaged audience through our premium newsletter sponsorships. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top five stories today in Centreville:

1. Last Wednesday evening, officers responded to a theft reported by asset protection at the nearby Nordstrom at Tysons Corner Center, ending in the suspect's death. Timothy McCree Johnson, 37, was reported to have stolen designer sunglasses and fled the store as an anti-theft alarm rang and proceeded to run through a parking garage and then a wooded area. Johnson reportedly ignored verbal commands to get on the ground and two officers discharged their firearms, striking Johnson in the chest one time. Officers immediately administered aid until Fairfax County Fire and Rescue arrived. Johnson was pronounced deceased at a local hospital. (FCPD News)
2. Fairfax County Public Schools plans to offer Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies courses at Centreville, McLean, and Westfield high schools. These highly-debated courses are focused on African American identity and history and will be available at these Fairfax County schools as part of a pilot program during the next school year. It is unclear if the state of Virginia can stop schools from offering American Studies courses because AP courses are chosen by school districts and not by the state. (Reston Now)
3. Centerville-based Parsons Corporation announced on Thursday that the company was chosen by Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) to provide construction management services for the Rinconada Water Treatment Plan Reliability Improvement Project. The $30 million contract includes the construction management of new initiatives. The project's goal is to upgrade or replace key equipment to meet increasingly high standards for water quality, stability, and safety. (EIN News)
4. Highlights from Northern Virginia basketball region semifinal matchups have been released. Winners will move on to the region final and then try their luck at states. The Centreville Wildcats split the regular season series 1-1 and then were taken down by the Madison Warhawks 44-35. (DC News Now | Washington, DC)
5. Five of the best places to eat in Centreville have been posted. This list includes a wide variety of local and exotic flavors. Restaurant varieties include Korean barbeque, Italian, and Mediterranean cuisine. (Patch)

From our sponsor:

The hustle and bustle of daily life can cause people to become overwhelmed and burnt out — many without even realizing it. BetterHelp online therapy wants to remind you to prioritize yourself. If you're stressed out, talking to someone can help you figure out what's causing it. To get started, just complete a quick, confidential questionnaire, and you can be matched with a professional therapist in less than 48 hours. Get matched today.

Coming up in and around Centreville:

Monday, February 27

• Ideal-LIVING Real Estate Show At The Ritz-Carlton, McLean (9:00 AM)

Tuesday, February 28

• Kids Eat Free At Fun Land of Fairfax (4:00 PM)

Wednesday, March 1

• Welcome Club Of Northern Virginia At Chantilly Golf and Country Club (11:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• Do you have room in your barn for some new feathered friends? Spruce the goose and roosters Eclipse and Luna are up for adoption at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter! (Fairfax County Animal Shelter via Instagram)
• The Fairfax County Government is committed to creating a minimum of 10,000 new homes by 2034. These homes will be affordable for families earning 30 to 70 percent of the area's median income. (Fairfax County Government via Instagram)
• Bull Run Regional Park will hold its Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt every day from Saturday, Apr. 1 through Sunday, Apr. 16! Scavenger hunts are $5 per participant and payment is accepted online or at the door. (Bull Run Regional Park via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Jazzercise @ Fairfax Police Association Hall — (Visit website)
• Add your business here

Featured events:

• FREE WEBINAR | "The Beauty of Botticelli" (February 28)
• Manassas Symphony Presents "Inspirations" with Pianist Joseph Kingma (March 4)
• The DC Big Flea March 4-5th (March 5)
• Fairfax Choral Society’s 60th Anniversary Gala (March 11)
• Add your event

Other featured classifieds:

• AP Tests & Reviews | SAT | ACT | SOL Tests & Reviews (Details)
• Add your classified

Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. I'll see you soon!

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.