A horrific killing occurred in a Nepali family in Mantua, Fairfax County, Virginia, USA. According to local time, the incident took place around 5:15 a.m. on Monday, February 24. Detailed information about how the incident unfolded has not yet been fully made public.
The incident occurred about 14 miles (22 kilometers) from Washington, D.C. In the case, 50-year-old Chhatra Bahadur Thapa killed his 31-year-old daughter Mamata Thapa and his 51-year-old wife Binda Thapa. Chhatra also died during the process of being taken into custody.
The Fairfax County Police Department is investigating the incident. After arriving at the scene, collecting evidence, and working to prevent further harm, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis briefed the media. Below is an edited excerpt of what Davis told reporters:
Inside the apartment lived a 30-year-old man and his wife, their one-year-old baby, and the wife’s parents (both around 50 years old). At some point that morning, while the son-in-law was outside clearing snow off his car, he heard loud noises coming from the apartment. At that time, his wife, their one-year-old child, and his in-laws were inside.
A neighbor living in a nearby building also heard the commotion and called 911. As a result, two nearly simultaneous 911 calls were received—one from the son-in-law and one from another building resident.
According to the preliminary investigation, when the son-in-law entered the apartment, he saw his wife injured from a knife attack and his father-in-law holding a large knife (machete-like weapon). Chief Davis said it was difficult even to describe the scene. The recovered weapon had a blade nearly 10 inches long.
By the time the son-in-law arrived, the father-in-law was attacking his daughter with the sharp weapon. He then turned the weapon toward the son-in-law. As a result, three people were attacked. The daughter died at the scene from her injuries. The wife was critically injured (and later died). The son-in-law was seriously injured and is receiving treatment at a local hospital.
Fortunately, the baby was unharmed. Chief Davis described the scene as beyond bloody and unimaginable. The destruction and chaos caused by the 50-year-old man against his own family were described as incomprehensible.
Police officers arrived at the apartment within minutes of receiving the call. When they entered, the father-in-law was actively attacking the son-in-law. Officers repeatedly ordered him to drop the weapon, but he refused and continued the assault in front of them.
Although one of the 911 callers was the son-in-law himself, he had already attempted to stop his father-in-law before police arrived, likely in an effort to protect his child. Witnessing the ongoing attack, officers discharged their firearms and shot the suspect—the man wielding the blade—who had already killed his daughter and violently attacked his wife and son-in-law.
Chief Davis said he could not even imagine what had transpired within those four walls. He also commended the neighbor for calling 911 after hearing the disturbance.
He questioned what state of mind or circumstances could lead someone to carry out such violence against their own family. He emphasized that any loss of life is taken very seriously. Fairfax County police officers discharge their weapons only to save lives, and he stated that this was such a case.
An officer fired his weapon to save the life of the man who was being attacked. That man remains in critical condition and is reportedly undergoing surgery.
Police records show no previous reports of domestic violence or other incidents at the apartment. However, there is no one currently able to explain what had been happening inside. Three people have died, the son-in-law remains unconscious, and the only person unharmed and conscious is the one-year-old child.
