Officers Not Charged In Police-Involved Shooting At Senior Living Apartment

WOODBRIDGE, VA — No charges will be pursued against Prince William County police officers in a fatal officer-involved shooting at a senior living home in Lake Ridge.

A criminal investigation into the April 26 shooting at a Westminster at Lake Ridge Senior Living Home apartment was conducted by the Critical Incident Response Team made up of regional law enforcement. The investigation findings were presented to Prince William County Commonwealth's Attorney Amy Ashworth, who decided not to seek charges against involved officers.

The incident will now go to an internal administrative review at the Prince William County Police Department's Office of Professional Standards. The Prince William County Police Department’s Use of Deadly Force Review Board will do a final review to determine if the shooting was justified and followed policies. The involved officers had been put on routine administrative leave following the shooting.

Around 9:58 a.m. on April 26, police had responded to the Westminster at Lake Ridge Senior Living Home located in the 12100 block of Clipper Drive in Lake Ridge for a man in crisis armed with a knife. As police made contact with the man inside an apartment, the man approached with a knife. Police say the man disregarded officer commands, and officers fired multiple rounds.

After the initial encounter, police say the man began to attack a 91-year-old woman in the apartment, leading to officers firing their guns again. Officers provided aid to both, and the woman was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Police said she would recover. Inside NOVA reported that the woman was the man's grandmother.

The man died at the scene and was identified as Joseph Anthony Cassell, 26. No officers were injured.