Teenager charged after chase through Tysons Corner Center: police
WASHINGTON - A 16-year-old from Centreville, Virginia has been charged after police say he brought a gun to Tysons Corner Center Mall Sunday night.
Police said Monday the gun was stolen from Prince William County and the teen was already a convicted felon.
Fairfax County police aren’t alleging any crime in progress at the mall Sunday. It was just before 8 p.m. when an off-duty Arlington officer believed he spotted three suspects wanted in a robbery case.
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"In that robbery in Arlington County the men were armed at the time, so out of an abundance of caution, our officers began following the group of men trying to wait until they left the mall before they approached and took them into custody," said Fairfax Co. Lt. James Curry.
According to police radio traffic, officers trailed the men for at least ten minutes through the mall.
Police say when they tried to approach them, the three guys took off running through the mall, and a fire alarm ended up being set off — possibly by one of the suspects.
Police ultimately arrested the teen and one other man and recovered the gun.
Radio traffic shows panic had spread throughout the mall with people calling 911 and reports of a shooting. Someone reported shots fired and people hiding at Nordstrom, although police said there were never shots fired anywhere at the mall.
"During the incident, there was a lot of misinformation about the potential of shots being fired at the mall during the arrest of these individuals," Curry said.
The second man arrested was released and currently is not facing charges. Arlington County police said Monday that their robbery investigation is ongoing and no one has been charged yet.
The third suspect was not located. Fairfax Co. police said the 16-year-old was charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm by a person underage, possession of a concealed weapon, possession of a stolen firearm, and obstruction of justice.
Fairfax County police said officers are always stationed at Tysons and there are extra patrols over the holidays.