Alexandria's Part I Crimes Overall Increase In 2020: Police

ALEXANDRIA, VA — On Tuesday, the Alexandria Police Department released data on Part I crimes it submitted to the FBI.

The FBI classifies offenses as Part I and Part II crimes. Part I crimes are considered more serious crimes against people and personal property, including homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, and auto theft.

Alexandria's Part I crimes totaled 3,268 in 2020, up by 525 from 2019. There were increases for all types of Part I crimes, with the exception of rapes. The police department noted that the city has a low crime rate and criminal incidents, so percentage changes should be considered in context.

"2020 provided a unique set of challenges,” said Police Chief Michael Brown in a statement. "Our officers dedicated themselves to protecting the City and community members, while working through the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, both at home and on the job, as well the fallout and questions brought on by the death of George Floyd. I couldn’t be prouder of them."

Here's a look at 2020 Part I crimes compared to 2019.

Homicides

The city had three homicides in 2020, and all three incidents happened in the West End. The first homicide happened on July 29 in the 1400 block of South Greenmount Drive. The suspect, Ibrahm Elkahlil Bouaichi, 33, had been accused of rape by the homicide victim who reportedly had been his girlfriend, Karla Elizabeth Dominguez Gonzalez. As reported by ALX Now, an Alexandria judge allowed Bouaichi to be released in April on a $25,000 bond on condition that he only leave home for legal or pretrial services and not contact the victim.

The second homicide on Sept. 30 happened in the 5900 block of Quantrell Avenue. Officers found John Pope, 57, of Alexandria, with an upper body injury. He was taken to the hospital and died of his injuries. Alexandria Police arrested Tavon Marquis Lanier, 19, of Alexandria, in the case.

The third homicide occurred on Nov. 7 in the 4800 block of W. Braddock Road. Police responded to a report of a possible shooting and located an adult man with an upper body gunshot wound. The victim was taken to the hospital and was later identified as Yousef Tarek Omar, 23, of Texas. The case is listed as open.

Rapes

The city experienced a decline in reported rapes, but the police department and city's sexual assault center shared concerns that some rapes, domestic violence, and crimes against children could have been unreported. This may have been the case if victims did not feel comfortable reporting the crime while at home where the crime occurred. The police department says confidential support is available 24 hours a day through the city’s Sexual Assault Hotline at 703-683-7273 or by online chat with the National Sexual Assault Hotline. Emergencies can be reported by call or text to 911.

Burglaries

Police say residential burglaries were down, likely due to people spending more time at home during the pandemic. However, commercial burglaries increased from 40 in 2019 to 59 in 2020, likely due to stores temporarily closed or with limited hours. That increase comes after burglaries reached a five-year low in 2019.

Larcenies and Auto Thefts

The police department attributed an increase in stolen vehicles and larcenies from vehicles to the COVID-19 pandemic when owners left them unattended for extended periods. Most of the thefts involved unlocked vehicles, and few involved use of force such as breaking windows or forcing vehicle trunks open.

"There are simple steps vehicle owners can take to reduce their risk of becoming victims," said Brown. "Check on your vehicle daily, make sure the doors are locked and there are no valuables inside. You should also move the vehicle periodically to reduce the appearance it is not being used."

Note: While the city saw an increase in shots fired incidents over several months, incidents are largely not reflected in Part I crimes since they're typically non-contact offenses or destruction of property incidents.