Living in LoCo
Neighbors Abuzz with Stabbing News
Tammi Marcoullier at 11:20 a.m., November 19, 2007 (20 comments)
Before even the first county alert was delivered with news about the double stabbing in Broadlands Friday night, neighbors were talking. Was there a fight? Is it gangs... in Ashburn? The answers: yes and no.
A helicopter flying in to pick up the wounded added another level of intrigue. But first, let's clarify something about these medivacs. I talked with fire and rescue personnel (who make the call about what kind of medical care to request) and sheriff's office staff about this, since it seems like a significant number of accidents and injuries in Loudoun require a medivac.
I have been told that generally rescue teams will err on the side of caution and bring in the helicopters if the injury is potentially a trauma, even if it is not life threatening. And if an ambulance does take someone to Inova Loudoun and they determine it is a traumatic injury, which the hospital cannot handle, then that person will be flown to Fairfax. Fairfax Hospital and Washington Hospital Center are the area's two trauma centers.
So here we are with a story about a 19-year-old who was refused beer at the family-owned Mezza Grill in Broadlands. It sounds like the management tried to do the right thing and asked the guy to leave after he got verbally belligerent.
But for some reason this young man, a former honor roll student at Heritage High School in Leesburg, felt compelled to show his anger by (allegedly) stabbing not one, but two of the restaurant employees -- the second after he came to the aid of his colleague.
Neighbors were talking about this everywhere Saturday -- in cozy little cul-de-sacs, in the grocery stores, at the car washes, and in fast-food restaurants. One almost immediate assumption was that this violence was gang-related. So it broke stereotype when people saw the alert from the sheriff's office Saturday morning with a photo of the alleged perpetrator, Sean Patrick Shanahan, who didn't look like their idea of a gang member.
Did you notice that in the pre-arrest photo of Shanahan he is wearing an orange jumpsuit? Kraig Troxell, spokesman for the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, said he cannot comment on previous criminal history. But one might extrapolate from this photo that Shanahan, who is indeed wearing detention-center garb, had previous dealings with the sheriff's office.
Shanahan is scheduled to be arraigned and to have a bond hearing in front of a judge today.
What do you think about the level of violence in our community?
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This was an isolated incident that could have happened anywhere in Loudoun County. Nonetheless, in the immediate future, I'm sure people in Broadlands will be hesitant to go to that shopping center after dark, and Mezza Grill itself will probably suffer. For those of you concerned, here's something that should make you feel a little better: I listened to the scanner that night and the police and fire response was outstanding, not to mention the very quick response by not one but two medivac helicopters.
Posted by manypims (anonymous) on November 19, 2007 at 10:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow! He doesn't look homeless to me. But he is an "outsider" from Leesburg. Maybe Ashburn should start issuing passports. The bubble has been penetrated!
Posted by nozall (anonymous) on November 19, 2007 at 1:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Wow! He doesn't look homeless to me. But he is an "outsider" from Leesburg. Maybe Ashburn should start issuing passports. The bubble has been penetrated!"
Wierdest comment ever ...
Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on November 19, 2007 at 1:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Too bad someone who was exercising their 2nd Amendment wasn't in the area of Mezza Grill. Those would have been the last people that knucklehead stabbed.
Posted by xcop (anonymous) on November 19, 2007 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes this would appear to be a "weird" comment....except to those following the continuing saga of the fine upstanding Ashburn families versus the evil, criminal homeless and their untrustworthy, conniving sponsor, the Good Shephard Alliance. Can you say satire???
Posted by nozall (anonymous) on November 19, 2007 at 5:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't think the comment was weird. More like insensitive and inappropriate - and hopefully not read by the victims in this stabbing.
Posted by lindsaybooher (anonymous) on November 19, 2007 at 6:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
xcop, I was thinking EXACTLY the same thing.
Pop goes the weasel!
Posted by cer10death (anonymous) on November 20, 2007 at 4:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think this guy was "bused in" from Leesburg. That is what some Ashburn residents believe.
Posted by stixnstones (anonymous) on November 20, 2007 at 8:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
xcop and Stiks…
EUREKA! I just had an epiphany to rid our neighborhoods of these knife wielding hoodlums! It’s called Guns 4 Knives!
See…it’s like the D.C. Amnesty program where they buy guns, only this is Virginia, after all. We're a little cash strapped so we have to go with the currency we have.
See…we run ad spots on all mass media. It goes something like this: “We take our safe streets seriously! We’re going to get all the knives off the street! Bring in your knives – switchblades, pocket or steak knives – and we’ll exchange them for cold, hard steel gun steel.”
Whose with me?
Before anyone gets all high and mighty on me...this is called paraody and sarcasam.
Posted by cer10death (anonymous) on November 20, 2007 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
manypims is corrrect – this could (and does) happen in every neighborhood. Please don't shun Mezza Grill or the shopping center for one unusual event beyond their control.
As for Tammi's keen observation about Shanahan's picture, visit the very public (and user unfriendly) "Virginia Courts" website and click your way down to where you can enter a last name -- (http://www.courts.state.va.us/ ... "Case Information / General District Courts" ... "Loudoun" ... "Search" ... "Criminal" ... "Active" ... (last name) ... "Search"
Posted by locoroaddog (anonymous) on November 20, 2007 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There are TOOOOO many terror crimes like this is Ashburn...just like the Home invasion ones.
But the point is: WHY didn't you report the crime correctly? The two workers escorted the jurk outside the restaurant and that is where he stabbed them. The cops knew who he was and contacted the parents, blaw, blaw....see how easy it is to report accurately. Thanks Mezza Grill for enforcing the State laws on selling Booze!!! We'll keep supporting you for doing that!
Posted by cybertux1 (anonymous) on November 20, 2007 at 2:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Do I get to keep the knives? The good ones, I mean. Like those found at local playgrounds by certain Washington Post reporters. Not some junky butter knife. That doesn't count.
Posted by xcop (anonymous) on November 20, 2007 at 6:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sure! It's a one for one deal! You give a gun...get a knife.
Oh...I disagree that too many crimes like this happen around here, cybertux. Flush out your headgear, new guy. These types of crimes are happening EVERYWHERE.
And that's why guys like me and xcop are always packing heat. Never bring a knife to a gun fight.
Posted by cer10death (anonymous) on November 21, 2007 at 4:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Please people get your head out of the sand. I can remember stuff like this happening all around. This is one of the safest neighborhoods I have seen and will continue to be. I grew up in upper middle class neighborhoods in Northern Va since 70 something and can remember jerks like this doing dumb things. Are you sure he wasnt from Baltimore? I think he could have been a waterboy for the Ravens. I will check on that and get back.
Posted by ed (anonymous) on November 21, 2007 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How else do you think you get to start for the Ravens? Practicing football?
Posted by xcop (anonymous) on November 21, 2007 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is a lesson for all of us, however. If someone around you is getting belligerent, step back, call the cops on 911 immediately, and leave it to them to handle it as they are trained and equipped to do; don't get near the offender yourself if you don't absolutely have to.
Posted by homekelly (anonymous) on November 21, 2007 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
With all due respect, I'll take another way. There is no jest or sarcasm about this response. It's something that I am fully prepared to do.
I'll drawn down on him/her and tell them to drop the knife and get on the ground. I'll insure that I have an open backgroud that is safe to all by standers making sure I have a clean shot.
I'll repeat the warning until they drop the knife or flee. If they advance and endanger myself or another person, I will do what I've been properly trained to do...fire two shots in center mass using the sidearm I am duly licensed to carry. If I fail to stop him/her, I will fire two more. This is called "double tapping." I will repeat until the attacker is stopped or until I run out of ammo.
The rest will be up to the courts and God to decide.
Creeps like this only understand one thing...that's deadly force. Hopefully, they will do what they've been instructed to do and obey the command without having to fire a shot.
Posted by cer10death (anonymous) on November 21, 2007 at 5:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
cer10death,
You said it. Calling 911 is great, if the reason for calling 911 is willing to wait for the cops to get there. How long do you think it takes for someone with a knife in their hand to decide to cut you and actually do it? Now, how long do you think it takes for the 911 call taker to listen to you tell them what is happening, transfer your call to the sheriff's department, have the sheriff's dispatcher listen to you tell them what is happening too (yes, it really works this way here in LoCo), have a Deputy (or hopefully two for a violent crime in progress)get dispatched to the call, have those Deputies finish their Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruitys, and respond with lights and sirens going flash-flash woo-woo-woo? My money is on my roscoe (that's my nickname for my gun) getting out quicker.
Posted by xcop (anonymous) on November 21, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I love you, man! <gushing>
Posted by cer10death (anonymous) on November 22, 2007 at 7:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I know and love this kid i was there and know and SAW what happened that day you all dont know anything. you snobby stuck up rich yuppies. all you care about is money and cars. get a life and realize where you live. before you JUDGE someone make sure your hands are clean.i know about half you people in ashburn and alot of the soccer moms are closet crack cocaine addicts or alcoholics so shove it.
Posted by a_money (anonymous) on September 23, 2009 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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