<sh>Shooting, Attempted Robbery at Park
<bt>Fairfax County Police are investigating shooting and attempted robbery that took place Tuesday, Sept. 13, at Nottoway Park. Around 10 p.m. that evening, a 54-year-old man was walking home from Nottoway Park on a trail when two men approached him, police reports said. The victim told police that one of the men brandished a gun and demanded money. The victim allegedly grabbed the gun, said the report, and was shot in the midsection. The suspects fled into the woods.
The victim was able to go to his home in Vienna and call police, said Fairfax County Police spokesperson Rich Henry. He was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries, said the report.
The two suspects were described as about 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall, Hispanic, and of medium build. One was wearing a brown cloth vest.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or the police non-emergency number at 703-691-2131.
<sh>Shannon Outraises Hyland
<bt>Incumbent Del. Steve Shannon (D-35) raised over $26,000 more than opponent Jim Hyland (R) according to finance reports released by the State Board of Elections.
In the period from July 1 to Aug. 31, Shannon raised $57,027 in campaign contributions while Hyland took in $30,533. Each figure includes both cash and in-kind donations. Both candidates received large contributions from lobbying groups and individuals living outside the district.
Shannon has also outraised Hyland overall having taken in $183,306 over the course of the election cycle to Hyland's $91,058.
After expenditures, Shannon has $225,063 left going into the final two months of the campaign. Hyland has $25,024.
The Nov. 8 election will include races for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and every member of the House of Delegates. The last day to register to vote is Oct. 11.
<sh>Burglary at Legion Post 180.
<bt>Vienna Police are investigating a burglary that occurred at American Legion Dyer-Gunnell Post 180. Between closing Sunday, Sept. 11 at 10:45 p.m. and opening Monday, Sept. 12 at 6:30 a.m., wrote Post 180 adjutant Mike Berger via e-mail, unknown persons entered the post, which is located in the 300 block of North Center St. According to Berger, thousands of dollars were removed from two safes.
Post 180 members discovered the burglary when they opened Monday morning, said Officer Russ Marshall of the Vienna Police Department. Police are pursuing leads and are working on the case, he said.
<sh>Car Robbery in Merrifield
<bt>On Thursday, Sept. 15 at about 6:15 p.m., two men from Hampton-Sydney, Va. were sitting in a car in the parking lot of the 3000 block of Gate House Plaza when two men approached them, according to a Fairfax County Police report. One suspect went to the driver's side and the other went to the passenger's side. The suspect on the driver's side pointed a gun at the victim and demanded money, while the suspect on the passenger's side demanded money from the victim in the passenger's seat, said the report. The victim in the driver's seat gave the suspect money, said police spokesperson Beth Funston. The suspects fled in a 2004 blue Kia van with Virginia plates, she said.
Witnesses walking through the parking lot at the time of the incident are helping police, said Funston. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.
<sh>Sendoff for 100-Mile Walk
<bt>The Arc of Northern Virginia invites the public to join a send-off for Mark Brobston on his 100-mile walk to Richmond, where he will join the rest of The Arc, its affiliates and friends for "A Life Like Yours," the Arc March 2005. The send-off will be Sunday, Sept. 25, from 7-8 a.m., in the Arc of Northern Virginia parking lot at 100 N. Washington St., Falls Church. Call 703-532-3214, ext. 204, to RSVP.
The Arc of Virginia will conduct a march through Richmond to the State Capitol Saturday, Oct. 1, beginning at Mayo Island at 10 a.m. The Arc is a statewide organization celebrating its 50th anniversary as Virginia’s major family advocacy network for persons with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities. The Arc is sponsoring its march to raise public awareness about the needs of persons with disabilities and about the role state government plays in financing mental retardation services in communities across the commonwealth.