Arlington Man Arrested After Shooting Towards Officers During Pursuit

Published on October 07, 2022

ARLINGTON, Va. – An Arlington man who recklessly discharged a firearm towards officers and in the vicinity of community members during two incidents on Thursday night is in custody due to the courageous and professional efforts of members of the Arlington County Police Department, the Fairfax County Police Department, and the Virginia State Police. Ricardo Singleton, 27, is charged in Arlington County with Attempted Malicious Wounding of a Police Officer (x3), Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony, Reckless Handling of a Firearm, Brandishing, Eluding (x2) and Hit and Run. He is charged with additional offenses in Fairfax County where he is being held in the Adult Detention Center.

Just prior to 9 a.m. on October 6, Arlington County Sheriff’s Office deputies made contact with the driver of a vehicle stopped in the crosswalk in the 1400 block of N. Courthouse Road. As they approached, they observed the suspect pointing a firearm towards the ceiling of the car. The suspect then drove away and the deputies entered their vehicle and followed to investigate. Deputies located the suspect in a nearby garage and he stated he was in need of help. They instructed him to park and as they approached the vehicle, observed the firearm in his lap. The suspect then drove off, struck a vehicle in the 1200 block of N. Courthouse Road and fled the area.

Arlington County Police officers responded to the scene, identified the suspect and obtained warrants for his arrest. Members of the department’s Tactical Unit continued efforts throughout the day to locate the suspect. He was later located in Prince George’s County, Maryland where he fled from Prince George’s County Police after they attempted to stop his vehicle.

Arlington officers then saturated the area near the suspect’s residence and just prior to 8 p.m., located the suspect vehicle in the area of Columbia Pike and S. Wakefield Street. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the suspect fled and a vehicle pursuit was initiated. During the pursuit, the suspect fired his weapon in the direction of the officers as they traveled in the 600 block of S. Wakefield Street. The pursuit continued onto Route 50 into Fairfax County with the assistance of Virginia State Police and Fairfax County Police.

The suspect crashed at Route 50 and Graham Road, leaving the vehicle inoperable. The suspect then bailed out of the vehicle, fled the scene on foot and fired additional shots as Arlington County Police, Fairfax County Police and Virginia State Police pursued on foot. A perimeter was established and the suspect was located and taken into custody. A firearm with an extended magazine was recovered at the scene.

RELATED: Fairfax County Police Press Release

This remains an active criminal investigation. Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact the Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit at 703-228-4180 or ACPDTipline@arlingtonva.us. Information may also be reported anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).