A Fairfax County police officer has been cleared in the fatal shooting of a stabbing suspect last month.
Joseph A. Croft, 49, was shot and killed by police looking for a suspect in a stabbing near the Virginia Tire and Auto store, located at 6626 Backlick Road, on April 22.
Police said in a statement Thursday that Commonwealth’s Attorney Ray Morrough found “no basis for criminal liability on the part of the police officer who discharged his weapon.” Officer John Parker, a 15-year veteran of the department, is now returning to full patrol duties.
Parker found Croft, who matched the description of the stabbing suspect, about a half-mile away from the scene of the incident. Croft moved toward the officer with his weapon, police said, and the officer fired, killing Croft.
The stabbing victim survived his wounds.
