Officer-Involved Shooting Of Knife-Wielding Man Prompts No Charges

WOODBRIDGE, VA — Charges will not be pursued against an officer in the December 2024 fatal shooting of a knife-wielding man in the Woodbridge area.

The conclusion comes from a criminal investigation into the officer-involved shooting. A regional Critical Incident Response Team made up of law enforcement agency investigators from around Northern Virginia investigated the shooting. The investigation findings were provided to Prince William County Commonwealth's Attorney Amy Ashworth, who decided not to pursue charges against the involved officer.

The shooting is still subject to an internal administrative review by the Prince William County Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards and final review by the Prince William County Police Department’s Use of Deadly Force Review Board to determine if it was justified.

The shooting happened on Dec. 4, 2024 on the grounds of the Department of Fire & Rescue Station 26 and the Central District Police Station in the 5000 block of Davis Ford Road. According to police, an officer was completing a shift when notified about a man in the fire station's back parking lot. The officer found the man with a knife, and police say the man started approaching the officer and waving the knife.

According to police, the officer made commands to drop the knife, but the man refused and continued moving toward the officer. At one point, the officer fired their weapon, hitting the man in the upper body. Additional arriving officers and fire and rescue personnel provided aid to the man. He was taken to the hospital and died of his injuries.

The man was identified as Michael David Burke, 58.

The shooting was contained to the grounds of the police and fire stations. There were no other injuries reported.

The involved officer was put on routine administrative leave during the investigation.