An Alexandria City Police Department school resource officer has been indicted for the reckless handling of a firearm and destruction of property at George Washington Middle School after discharging his service firearm inside his office at the school on March 13. Carl Savoy, 27, a five-year veteran of the Alexandria Police Department, turned himself in shortly after being charged on May 21, has been released on his own recognizance and is on administrative leave without pay.
“Sad situation, but I appreciate the Commonwealth Attorney and Police Department's prompt and thorough investigation,” said Vice Mayor Justin Wilson, whose son attends GW.
Savoy was in his office when the shot was fired at approximately 9:10 a.m. The bullet found its way into a seventh grade history classroom and struck a refrigerator. Savoy then checked classroom to see if any students were injured. No one was hurt, no alarms went off and classes resumed after all students were found safe. Parents were notified by email at 10:30 a.m. — an hour and 20 minutes after the shot was fired. Students were also sent home with notes from the principal.
After the incident, the City of Alexandria and Police Chief Mike Brown deemed it an accident. The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office, while declining to discuss specifics over the incident by citing the Virginia State Bar’s Rules of Professional Conduct, said that Savoy “allegedly discharged his firearm accidentally,” and faces a maximum penalty on both counts of a year in jail and a fine of not more than $2,500.
No trial date has been set.