Thirty-nine-year-old Zaid Karim Bechara remains in critical condition at Inova Fairfax Hospital after stabbing his wife to death and then turning the knife on himself.
Alexandria police were called to the ParkFairfax neighborhood at around 5:30 p.m. on July 1, after receiving a report of a woman bleeding. They found 38-year-old Suzanna Bechara bleeding from the upper torso. She was flown to Washington Hospital’s Medstar Unit where she underwent surgery but died at 8:58 p.m.
INVESTIGATORS learned that the victim had been stabbed multiple times by her husband. She managed to escape and went to a neighbor who called for help.
After the assault, the suspect barricaded himself inside his home in the 3500 block of Gunston Road. When police attempted to enter the residence, they detected a strong odor of natural gas. The fire department assisted by turning off the gas and helping evacuate several nearby residents.
The Hostage Negotiation Team made several attempts to talk to the suspect throughout the evening without success. Finally, at 11:55 p.m. the Special Operations Team forced their way into the home and found the suspect suffering from an apparent self-inflicted stab wound.
Criminal charges against Bechara are pending.
"This was a terrible incident, said Parkfairfax Condominium Unit Owners Association President Matthew Natale. "This appeared to be a domestic situation. The police did a great job of getting the road blocked off and ending this terrible situation."
According to Natale, the Parkfairfax administrative headquarters building was turned into a command center for the police during the standoff and a number of residents who were displaced from their homes due to the smell of gas, used the building as well.
"Our heart goes out to the victim and her family. We're all in shock over this incident."