Police Seek a 'Person of Interest' in Lawyer's Shooting
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Originally published at 9:31 p.m., February 2, 2009
Updated at 12:46 a.m., February 4, 2009
Jeremy Curry was driving home Monday night when a blast pierced the icy air. Seconds later, a man in business attire, holding the back of his bleeding head, flagged down his pickup truck outside a law firm in Leesburg.
"'Somebody shot me! ...I need to get to the hospital!" Curry recalled the man saying.
The man, attorney Todd F. Sanders, had been working in his office on South King Street about 6:30 p.m. when he heard a knock on the door downstairs, according to a source familiar with the investigation. He checked, didn't see anyone at the front door and was then was shot, possibly through a window in the back door, the source said.
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Shooting in Leesburg
Attorney Todd Sanders was shot at his office last night. The Law Offices of Sanders and Kissler is located at 204 South King Street in Leesburg. (Tracy A. Woodward)
The Law Offices of Sanders and Kissler in Leesburg, where Attorney Todd Sanders was shot while in his office last night. The building is located at 204 South King Street. (Tracy A. Woodward)
Authorities believe Sanders, 45, may have been targeted and are investigating whether the shooter was someone he put behind bars as a former prosecutor in Fairfax and Loudoun counties, or a client he defended in his private practice. Leesburg police said Sanders was hit in the head and neck area.
Police said they were seeking a "person of interest" who used a payphone at a nearby Safeway store between 5 and 6 p.m. Monday, but declined to say how the person was connected to the case. They would not say if the shooter was a man or a woman. Sanders was treated and released from a hospital Monday. He declined to comment on the incident.
The shooting stunned the quiet, historic community in the county seat. With its storefronts, antique shops and cafes, Leesburg retains a small-town feel despite the tremendous growth the area has seen in the past decade. Law offices are ubiquitous on the streets surrounding the courthouse on East Market Street.
"Nothing much happens here, other than a parade at the drop of a hat," said Steven Mitchell, 56, who owns an apartment near where the shooting occurred. "It's Mayberry."
After seeing his condition, Curry quickly let Sanders into his Chevy pickup and called 911. He said Sanders was alert but "sort of in a panic," and was bleeding from the back of his head and down his neck. Curry, 35, of Bluemont took off his blue sweatshirt bearing the name of his business, Auto Solutions — which is directly across from the Sanders & Kissler law firm — and gave it to Sanders to help stop the bleeding.
204 South King Street
The two arrived at Inova Leesburg Medical Campus on Cornwall Street within minutes, and after dropping Sanders off at the emergency room, Curry returned back to the scene to speak with police, who had flooded the area.
"It's hard to believe [this would happen] right here in this little town," Curry said. "Of course, the little town isn't so little anymore. It's scary, for sure."
Sanders, who practices with a partner, Tracy S. Kissler, was an assistant commonwealth's attorney for much of the 1990s in Fairfax, where he prosecuted everything from petty crimes to murder cases. He spent about a year in the same post in Loudoun, then started a private practice in Leesburg in 2001. He does some civil litigation but focuses on criminal defense in cases ranging from DWIs to major felonies.
Last year, he represented an Ashburn woman who held her doctor and his wife at gunpoint because she blamed him for her son's cerebral palsy. On several of the charges against her, a judge found the woman not guilty by reason of insanity.
Yesterday, area lawyers said that although the fear of retribution is sometimes in the back of their minds when trying emotionally-charged cases, it is jarring to think it may have occurred so close to home.
"It does give you some kind of pause," said Cheryl K. Graham, a divorce lawyer with a street-level office in Leesburg. "Certainly we're easy targets to blame when things don't go your way."
Tagged: crime, Leesburg, Leesburg Police Department, shooting
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This is an awful shame. Todd is a great attorney. I've know him for some time. My office used to be next door to his. I am pleased he was not harmed and pray for the police to find the perpetrator.
Posted by kreid (anonymous) on February 3, 2009 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Glad that he is okay. Hope they catch the person or person who did this and lock them up for a long time.
Posted by johnsonj3 (anonymous) on February 3, 2009 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow. hopefully they catch the scumsicle who did this!
Posted by blowmypantsoff (anonymous) on February 3, 2009 at 11:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A very scarey thing in our town. Hope they catch the shooter quickly.
Posted by quietobserver (anonymous) on February 3, 2009 at 1:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by proudgaycuban (anonymous) on February 3, 2009 at 2:01 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by sunflower32u2 (anonymous) on February 3, 2009 at 2:28 p.m.
The law gives no special protection to defense attorneys, like it does to prosecutors, judges, witnesses, and almost everyone else involved in the Virginia judicial process. Time to change that.
Posted by ggreenbaum (anonymous) on February 3, 2009 at 3:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Former prosecutor shot by an old case he prosecuted is my guess.
Posted by cr10 (anonymous) on February 3, 2009 at 5:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bet it was an unhappy client.
Posted by Martial (anonymous) on February 3, 2009 at 6:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The law gives no special protection to defense attorneys, like it does to prosecutors, judges, witnesses, and almost everyone else involved in the Virginia judicial process. Time to change that.
Posted by ggreenbaum (anonymous) on February 3, 2009 at 3:28 p.m.
___________________________________________
Are you certain about that? If so, it is more than time to change that. Defense attorneys are officers-of-the-court, the same as prosecutors. Any attempt to intimidate or take revenge on a court officer, or witness, is an assault on our entire criminal justice system.
Posted by hisroc (anonymous) on February 3, 2009 at 6:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
check the nearby surveillance cameras. some store has it on tape
Posted by klhfaskhasdfgfdhak (anonymous) on February 3, 2009 at 9:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hisroc, great point! I hope they catch the shooter ASAP and that Mr Sanders has a speedy recovery.
Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 7:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope Todd is okay. He is a great guy and a very ethical and moral attorney.
Posted by qazwsxedcrfv (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
One of the better lawyers and people in Leesburg, am very glad this did not turn out worse.
Posted by stuartwolk (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I also am an attorney in private practice in a small town for the last 23 years.
About 10 years ago, I represented a landlord in a dispute against a psychotic tenant with a documented history of violence (a case I actually assumed as a favor to a colleague who was appointed to the bench). That defendant, whom I considered dangerous, stalked my office and home (a couple of miles away from my office) for a week.
When I asked for the favor of police patrols from the Montgomery County (MD) police after explaining the situation, I was told the police could offer no assistance if no crime had been committed. Sort of like, "call us back after you've been shot".
I often work in my office into the evening. However, ever since that episode, I keep my doors locked and a firearm close at hand for protection.
I do not consider myself any more special than any other citizen. However, if we have increased penalties for "hate crimes" against certain elements of society, then it appears to me that enhanced penalties for crimes committed against officers of the Court also might be a good idea.
My thoughts.
Posted by LAWPOOL (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The part about asking the police for protection after one hs been stalked and being told that the police cannot do anything until after a crime has been committed is troublesome. It/s like, yeah, he wants to hurt you, but we gotta let him hurt you, and then we can come over and do something.
Posted by marionbarryaintgonnagetsetupnomo (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LAWPOOL, I agree with you that lawyers should be afforded additional protection. Good luck making that happen in a state that can't even make background checks mandatory for firearms purchases at gun shows.
Posted by Koolio96 (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 7:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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