Fairfax County police used automated license plate readers to charge five people and recover seven firearms within days of a Nov. 4 shooting in Hybla Valley.
The case is the latest example of the county's ALPR network in action as the Board of Supervisors weighs the program's future. Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) operates 84 Flock Safety cameras across the county, and 120 are privately owned by homeowners associations and businesses, according to WUSA9's coverage of an October Board of Supervisors hearing. The technology's reach extends across FCPD's jurisdiction, which includes Vienna.
The board voted in September to pause new camera installations, Northern Virginia Magazine reported. Board Chair Jeff McKay said at the time that "broader concerns surrounding this technology warrant additional review and greater assurances from Flock Safety."
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn has publicly opposed the cameras. "In this age of #AI, we must avoid enabling a surveillance state," Alcorn said on X on Oct. 21.
The Hybla Valley case, detailed in a Nov. 10 FCPD press release, began when officers responded to the 7900 block of Janna Lee Avenue at about 4:53 p.m. on Nov. 4 after callers reported gunshots. They found 24 cartridge casings and bullet holes in a vehicle and nearby street signs. No injuries were reported.
Witnesses described a black sedan and a silver sedan approaching each other. Several people got out of both vehicles and shot at each other before fleeing, the department said. Detectives determined the shooting was an isolated incident between people who knew one another.
Using witness descriptions and ALPR data from the Real Time Crime Center (RTCC), investigators identified the license plates of both vehicles.
About 90 minutes later, officers located one suspect vehicle at a nearby shopping center. A search turned up a loaded handgun with an extended magazine and an AR-style pistol with an obliterated serial number.
Police identified the driver as Derrick Belizaire, 20, of Alexandria. Belizaire was charged with carrying a concealed firearm, reckless discharge of a firearm, shooting in a public place, possession of an extended magazine and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. He was held without bond.
On Nov. 6, officers received an ALPR alert for the second vehicle. A Drone as First Responder unit spotted it entering a motel parking lot in the 6000 block of Richmond Highway in Belle Haven. Detectives stopped an associated vehicle leaving the motel and recovered four firearms, each with an extended magazine, and narcotics.
Jacob Terrell, 24, of Lorton, faced the most charges, including two counts of malicious shooting and two counts of malicious shooting at an occupied vehicle. He was held without bond. Randall Terrell, 19, of South Carolina, was also held without bond on shooting and firearms charges.
Isaac Adu, 23, of Alexandria, was released on summonses for carrying a concealed firearm, possession of an extended magazine and a traffic violation. Gershon Terrell, 50, of Alexandria, was charged with drug possession after detectives found narcotics and a firearm in his motel room. He was released on a $2,000 unsecured bond.
In total, seven firearms were recovered, including multiple weapons with extended magazines.
Anyone with information can call the Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 2, or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Solvers at 866-411-8477.
