MCLEAN, VA – A shooting incident unfolded in McLean, Virginia, as an off-duty U.S. Park Police officer was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter. He fatally shot a fellow officer during an alcohol-fueled gathering. The suspect, identified as U.S. Park Police officer Alexander Roy, mistakenly discharged a firearm he believed to be unloaded, resulting in the death of officer Jesse Brown Hernandez.
The tragic incident occurred at approximately 12:20 a.m. local time on Sunday when 25-year-old Alexander Roy was playfully handling a gun, thinking it was empty. The gun discharged, striking 22-year-old Jesse Brown Hernandez in the upper body, causing fatal injuries. Authorities think that alcohol played a role in the unfortunate turn of events.
Remarkably, three out of the four individuals present in the apartment at the time of the shooting were off-duty U.S. Park Police officers. Fairfax County officers responded to a 911 call reporting the accidental shooting, leading to the discovery of Hernandez’s lifeless body at the scene.
Preliminary investigations suggest that Roy was “dry firing” the weapon, a practice that simulates the discharge of a firearm without live ammunition. After consulting with prosecutors, Alexander Roy was charged with involuntary manslaughter and was subsequently detained at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.
The U.S. Park Police released a statement acknowledging the incident and stated that it is under investigation. They emphasized their focus on providing support to the affected officers’ families, friends, and colleagues during this tragic time. The circumstances that surround the deadly shooting are still being investigated, and the Fairfax County Police Department has called upon anyone with information about the incident to come forward.