Virginia Hospital Escape: Armed Prisoner in Manhunt Captured - East Idaho News
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Virginia Hospital Escape: Armed Prisoner in Manhunt Captured

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HT Wossen Assaye ml 150331 16x9 992?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1427801628365Fairfax County Police(FALLS CHURCH, Va.) — Police have captured a convict who became the subject of a manhunt after escaping from a Virginia hospital Tuesday morning, a law enforcement official confirmed.

Law enforcement sources said the suspect was arrested in Washington, D.C., by MPD without incident. The location was 25th and Pennsylvania Ave. SE.

The escaped prisoner, identified as Wossen Assaye, earlier prompted a lockdown at a Northern Virginia hospital after he overpowered a guard, fired a gun and escaped, authorities said.

Earlier, officials found a car he was believed to be in, prompting them to believe he may have switched cars.

“The Toyota Camry w/VA tags: XZP-8513 has been located,” Fairfax County Police in Virginia said via Twitter. “The suspect is still at large and we are continuing the search.”

Police said Assaye may have switched to a 2008 gray Hyundai Elantra with Virginia plates XTU-5024, and be wearing a dark colored jacket and blue jeans.

Inova Fairfax Hospital, located in the city of Falls Church, Virginia, less than 10 miles southwest of Washington, D.C. was placed on lockdown Tuesday morning after Assaye escaped from custody, authorities said.

Assaye overpowered a private security guard and took the guard’s gun, Fairfax County Police said. Police said Assaye had been taken to the hospital for medical treatment after attempting to harm himself.

A struggle broke out between the private security guard and Assaye, and one shot was fired, but no one was injured, police said. The suspect, who was wearing a hospital gown and no shoes, was considered armed and dangerous.

Authorities released a photo of the suspect’s girlfriend, stating that Assaye may be with her.

 

 Authorities said Assaye escaped by carjacking the 2002 silver Toyota Camry they located later in the morning, police said.

According to a court complaint, Assaye was accused in a string of bank robberies in eastern Virginia between October 2013 and March 20, 2015. In each situation, authorities say, the perpetrator entered the bank — often with a cell phone to his ear — either displayed a handgun or demand note, and verbally demanded money.

Assaye had a criminal history, with convictions for multiple burglary and robbery offenses in 1998 and 1999, and served time in prison between 2000 and May 2013, according to the complaint.

A heavy police presence was reported near the hospital, and police vehicles were seen blocking the hospital’s entrances during the search for the prisoner. Hospital employees were being sent to a nearby high school, and a shuttle bus was carrying the employees to work during the lockdown, police said.

Fairfax County Police Second Lt. Brooke Wright said multiple law enforcement bodies — including the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and state police — are helping with the search.

“We don’t believe that he has gone far,” Wright said.


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