Two relatives died from stab wounds, and a third was badly injured, authorities said.
FAIRFAX, VA — A Fairfax County police officer shot and killed a man accused of attacking his own family with a knife inside a Northern Virginia apartment early Monday, authorities said. The man’s wife and adult daughter later died, and his son-in-law was left in life-threatening condition.
The violence unfolded as much of the Washington region dug out from a winter storm, turning a quiet apartment complex in the Mantua area into a crime scene before sunrise. Police Chief Kevin Davis said the officer acted to stop an ongoing stabbing after the suspect refused repeated orders to drop the weapon. Investigators had not identified a motive by late Monday morning, and officials said the family had no known history of prior police calls at the address.
Police said the first emergency call came just after 5 a.m. from a man in his 30s who lived in the apartment with his wife, their 1-year-old child and his wife’s parents. Davis said the caller was outside clearing snow from a car when he heard a disturbance inside. A second person in a nearby building also called 911 after hearing commotion, police said. The son-in-law ran back inside and found his wife suffering from stab wounds, then saw his father-in-law attacking his mother-in-law, Davis said. “The damage, the chaos, and the carnage that was perpetrated by this man in his 50s on his own family is unimaginable,” Davis said at a news conference.
Investigators said the suspect used what police described as a curved dagger with a 10-inch blade that resembled a meat cleaver. As the son-in-law tried to intervene, the father-in-law turned the knife on him, police said. Two officers arrived within minutes of the 911 calls and went to the apartment, Davis said. One officer saw the suspect actively stabbing the son-in-law and gave multiple commands to stop and drop the weapon, Davis said. When the suspect refused, the officer fired, police said. Officers immediately tried to save the suspect’s life, including CPR, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, Davis said.
Fairfax County police said the suspect’s wife and daughter were taken to a hospital but did not survive their injuries. Davis said the son-in-law underwent surgery and remained in grave condition Monday morning. The 1-year-old child was found inside the apartment and was not injured, police said. The child was checked by medical personnel and then placed with Child Protective Services, police said. Authorities did not release the names of anyone involved, saying relatives still needed to be notified. Police said they were working to locate additional family members who could care for the child.
Davis said investigators had not found previous calls for domestic trouble at the residence, but he added that detectives were still reviewing the family’s background and the hours leading up to the attack. “We don’t know yet what turmoil, what strife is happening in their lives,” Davis said, adding that he could not imagine what would drive someone to attack family members. Officials said the investigation was continuing and that key details remained unknown, including why the violence started and whether the suspect had shown warning signs before Monday morning. Police also have not said whether any other weapons were involved or whether the suspect had any prior criminal history.
The officer-involved shooting will be reviewed along with the killings, police said. Davis said he had already seen body-worn camera video and believed the officer did what police train for in a life-threatening situation. In a statement at the scene, Davis described the moment officers arrived as an active and ongoing attack, leaving little time for other options. Police did not say Monday whether the officer was placed on leave, and they did not identify the officer or specify how long the review might take. The department said investigators will continue interviewing witnesses, collecting evidence from the apartment and documenting the scene.
Residents in the complex watched as police tape went up and emergency vehicles lined the street in the dark hours of the morning. The neighborhood sits a short drive from the Capital Beltway, where families often commute into Washington and nearby job centers, and the early-morning quiet was broken by sirens and radio traffic. Davis said the son-in-law’s actions helped bring officers quickly to the apartment, but he stressed that the man walked into a terrifying situation. “So he hears some type of commotion and rushes back into the apartment and is confronted by a bloodbath,” Davis said. Police said the second 911 caller also helped alert officers as the attack was unfolding.
By late Monday morning, detectives remained at the scene while officials worked through next steps for the surviving relatives and the child. Police said they would continue to gather medical and forensic reports and to determine the sequence of events inside the apartment. Authorities said the case remained open and active, with the condition of the injured son-in-law a key concern. No additional public briefing was immediately announced, but police said updates would come as investigators confirmed identities and notified relatives.
Author note: Last updated February 23, 2026.