Alexandria police have charged 25-year-old DeCarlos Antonio Cunningham for the shooting and robbery of an off-duty Fairfax County police officer on May 16.
Cunningham is being held without bond, on a fugitive warrant in Prince Georges County pending extradition to Virginia. He was arrested the same day of the incident when he sought treatment for wounds he received during the attempted robbery.
Police said that two Fairfax County off-duty police officers were at the First Union Bank on W. Glebe and Mt. Vernon Ave. at around 2:30 a.m. on the 16th. Cunningham approached the male officer at the ATM and demanded money. There was a struggle and Cunningham allegedly shot the officer in the arm. The officer’s companion, a 22-year-old female officer, got out of the car and intervened, stabbing Cunningham in the back with a knife. Cunningham and other suspects fled in a minivan.
THE INJURED OFFICER was treated at Inova Fairfax Hospital and released later the same day. Cunningham was treated at Prince Georges Hospital and released to police.
Police Chief Charles E. Samarra commended the quick thinking of the two officers. “Both officers should be commended for their quick actions during a very dangerous situation. Their training and instincts not only prevented further injury to the officer but detectives were able to quickly find the suspect because of the injuries he received required him to seek immediate medical treatment.”