Fugitive Holds Elderly Leesburg Couple Hostage

Police strobes lit downtown Leesburg Friday after a man shattered the tranquil community – allegedly brandishing a gun in a store, stealing a vehicle and holding a family hostage.

According to the owner of the “Other Kind of Jewelry Store,” in downtown Leesburg, a black male entered the Jewelry store holding a Black N Decker duffle bag. The subject, who remains unidentified, asked to see a watch, then proceeded to unzip his bag and pull out a firearm. A sales associate called 911 and the perpetrator immediately ran from the store – without taking anything.

While some details of the futitive’s path are unclear, some have been confirmed by the appropriate authorities. Loudoun County Public Information Officer Chris Jones said that during this time, a foot chase ensued, and somehow the suspect managed to steal a Jeep Cherokee from another residence in his attempt to flee from police.

The suspect continued to flee, ending in a collision with another car – said to be an undercover police cruiser, on Valley View Ave. Following that, the suspect made his way into a nearby house, taking the the residing elderly couple hostage

SWAT and reconnaissance teams flooded the area, and sealed off many nearby roads from bystanders and media.

 Negotiations are ongoing, and at time of print, the demands of the fugitive have not been revealed to the public. So far there have been no confirmed injuries or fatalities.

NOTE: This is an evolving story. Additional details will be relased as soon as they become available.

*The Loudoun Independent featured the first reporters on the scene.