Prince William County Commonwealth Attorney Amy Ashworth ruled a fatal police shooting at a union worker training center justified.
An independent criminal investigation into the shooting and the moments that led up to shots fired on Feb. 13, 2024, an alteration began in a classroom inside the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). In this apprenticeship training center, several students had assembled for a class.
In a seemingly unprovoked attack, the suspect, Philip Austin Brant, 26, of Woodbridge, approached one victim, identified as a 23-year-old Fairfax man, and pulled a knife from a backpack before repeatedly stabbing the victim. The other students present inside the room dispersed as the victim attempted to separate from Brant, who continued the attack.
At one point, Brant exited the classroom where he encountered and repeatedly stabbed a second victim, 23-year-old Elijah Islam Safadi of Manassas, in a hallway. As officers arrived, Brant moved to the front entrance lobby of the building, where he eventually encountered officers who shot him, according to details released in a March 28, 2024, police report.
The initial stabbing victim collapsed inside the classroom where the altercation began, while Safadi exited the building before collapsing in the parking lot. Emergency crews rushed both to area hospitals with multiple stab wounds, where Safadi died from his injuries. The surviving victim suffered critical injuries.
The investigation was conducted by the regional Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT), which is comprised of investigators from multiple law enforcement agencies in Northern Virginia. No members of the Prince William County Police Department were involved in the investigation led by CIRT.
Author
Recent Stories
Prince William County is extending its sustainability partnership with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s Environmental Excellence Program (VEEP). VEEP is a program that encourages Virginia businesses “to go beyond…
The Republican Delegation of Spotsylvania issued a joint statement praising Governor Glenn Youngkin’s recent announcement of more than $10 million in grants through the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) that will help Spotsylvania families.
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors discussing the amendment decision at the July 16 meeting. The Prince William Board of County Supervisors removed the loan limit on the University…
Starting Sunday, July 28, drivers on Route 3 westbound in Fredericksburg will experience brief overnight delays and a temporary rough ride as crews begin resurfacing the road and updating lane markings.
Are you feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or anxious? Our dedicated team of mental health professionals is here to help you navigate life’s challenges and achieve emotional balance from the comfort of your home. We offer a wide range of services tailored to meet your unique needs, including individual therapy, couples counseling, group therapy, and specialized programs for anxiety, depression, addiction and trauma.
At Peaceful Mind Solutions we have a team of therapists ready to help you with your mental health needs. We offer a free 15-minute consultation to ensure our services fit your goals. We used an evidence-based approach to work on the root of your problem so we can help you get the mental clarity you need.
At our practice, we use Cognitive behavioral therapy. (CBT) is a great way to identify negative thought patterns and then change them with the help of a therapist working through them each week. We will give you the tools to make lasting changes in your life so you can get back to living without roadblocks.
On June 22, 2024, the Ira Dorsey Scholarship Ball, hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Xi Alpha Lambda Chapter, seated in Prince William County, VA, awarded $73,000 in scholarships to 17 students through the chapter’s foundation, the Ira Dorsey Scholarship Endowment Fund. These scholarships will support their college journeys at prestigious universities such as Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, Purdue University, Howard University, Shenandoah University, Old Dominion University, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Virginia, Cornell University, Spelman College, North Carolina A&T State University, and Norfolk State University. The event highlighted the commitment of the Ira Dorsey Scholarship Endowment Fund to fostering academic excellence and supporting the educational aspirations of young scholars in our community.
