Man Accused Of Theft Fatally Shot By Fairfax County Police Near Tysons Corner Center

TYSONS, VA — Fairfax County police officers shot and killed a man who was suspected of theft from a store at Tysons Corner Center Wednesday night, according to police.

The shooting occurred around 7 p.m. after police officers approached the man and then he ran away. Police chased the man for about a quarter mile, when he ran into a small wooded area along Fashion Boulevard in the Tysons Corner Center area, police said. The man was about 20 or 30 yards into the wooded area when police shot him.

Police are waiting to notify next of kin before releasing the name of the man who was fatally shot.

As part of their investigation, police will keep the wooded area in the 8100 block of Fashion Boulevard sealed off overnight, so it can be searched during daylight hours Thursday morning.

A uniformed police officer and a plain-clothed officer, both with the Fairfax County Police Department, chased after the man after being alerted by a security guard at the mall about the alleged theft.

At a news conference Wednesday night, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said both officers fired shots and that the man was hit at least one time.

The man was shot in the upper body, according to police, and was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died.

Davis said he does not know if the man was armed. The uniformed officer had a bodycam, and that footage will be released to the community within 30 days, he said. No officers were injured, according to police.

The police chief did not describe the nature of the theft that prompted the original call.

The two police officers were part of the Tysons Urban Team, a group of about 16 Fairfax County police officers assigned to the Tysons Corner area.

Davis said police are looking for witnesses to help with the investigation. Anyone with information about the shooting can call the police at 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477).