Two Falls Church Men Arrested For Firing Guns At Senior Complex

FALLS CHURCH, VA — Residents of a retirement community are breathing easier with the arrest over the weekend of two men who fired shots at the apartment complex, according to the Fairfax County police. In two incidents last month, the windows of three apartments within Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads were shattered by bullets.

No injuries were reported, and police detectives believe that no one was targeted. In a report, the police said the retirement community, in the 3400 block of South Jefferson Street, was not a target, "but rather the victim of reckless behavior."

Two Falls Church-area men are being held without bond at the Fairfax County jail on charges stemming from the incidents, the police said. Nehemias Perez Escobar, 35, and Irvin Rodriguez Perez, 23, have each been charged with discharging firearms or missiles within or at a building or dwelling house and willfully discharging firearms in public areas.

The arrests came after an around-the-clock investigation in which police detectives collected bullet fragments and looked over video surveillance clips provided by people who live and work in the area. The police also credited the cooperation they received from Goodwin House managers, security staff and residents.

In February, police officers responded to several calls in the Bailey’s Crossroads area for sounds of gunshots and damage to apartments consistent with gunfire. The first incident at Goodwin House occurred at around 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 10 and the other at around 6:25 p.m. on Feb. 23.

A few days later on Feb. 27, a patrol supervisor heard gunshots coming from the same neighborhood, the police said. Officers responded to the area, but no damage or injuries were reported.

Crime scene detectives collected the bullet fragments recovered in the apartments, then analyzed them to determine whether the cases were linked.

Images: Patch; Irvin Rodriguez Perez and Nehemias Perez Escobar (FCPD)