Fairfax County police lifted a shelter-in-place order Friday after shots were reportedly fired near a shopping center in Falls Church, Virginia.
Police told people near a shopping center around Bailey’s Crossroads to shelter in place during the shooting. No injuries have been reported, though two cars were damaged by gunshots, police confirmed. Leesburg Pike was closed in the area Friday afternoon but was reopened around 5 p.m.
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“There have been no shots fired since police’s arrival, so it is not an active shooter event at this time,” Lt. Daniel Spital said at a press conference.
Police initially believed the shooter fired a high-powered rifle from Skyline Towers Apartments but have since determined the shooter used a handgun and the shots were not fired from an elevated position, according to a tweet from the department.
Detectives determined the gunfire was not from an elevated position or from a high caliber weapon. Detectives continue to investigate & remain in the area. Roadways reopened & shelter in place lifted. Follow our blog, https://t.co/QsTzdpgf0U for updates when available.
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) September 23, 2022
Two people were outside a car near a Starbucks in the shopping center when they heard glass from the car break, Spital said. The duo called 911 at about 11:15 a.m. after taking cover when two more rounds hit the car.
Some people, including teenagers on their lunch break from school, were trapped inside a Starbucks for hours while officers investigated the scene, according to NBC Washington. Officers also combed the apartment complex floor by floor.
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Police are currently following up on active leads but do not have surveillance footage of the incident as of 5:20 p.m., according to the outlet. The shooter is still at large, and an investigation into the incident is being conducted.
