A woman authorities said was abducted on her birthday from her New York home is dead after a Wednesday night shootout between her suspected kidnapper and police on Interstate 95 in Prince William County near Quantico.
The woman was identified as 34-year-old Tatiana N. David, of Ithaca. She was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. New York State Police had issued an alert for her after the abduction on Wednesday.
New York State Police said her alleged kidnapper was Michael C. Davis, 34, of North Chesterfield, outside of Richmond.
David and Davis had previously been in a relationship and had a 4-year-old child together, according to The Associated Press. The two were in fierce custody battle, The Washington Post reports.
Davis was shot during the gunfight with police and flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital with life-threatening injuries. He was still being treated as of Thursday afternoon, according to WTOP.
Virginia State Police, who are leading the investigation, said a trooper spotted a white Jeep Cherokee with “the wrong license plates” Wednesday around 9:40 p.m. It was heading south on I-95 near the Backlick Road exit in Fairfax County. New York Police had reported Davis was driving a white SUV.
Police say the Jeep initially stopped, then sped away and hit a guardrail before continuing south.
The Jeep eventually ran off the road near the Quantico exit and crashed into the woods.
As troopers approached the Jeep, Davis began shooting and troopers returned fire, according to VSP. Davis was wounded in the exchange and taken to the hospital. Virginia State Police said David died at the scene.
A bullet-riddled SUV the subject of a massive #vatraffic backup on 95 Southbound – it will take you about 90 minutes to get from The Occoquon to pass the police investigation before Russel Rd #BreakingNews @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/wyQTnLCXjM
— ʙʀᴀᴅ ꜰʀᴇɪᴛᴀꜱ (@Chopper4Brad) April 6, 2023
State police said a gun was recovered from the Jeep.
No state police officers were injured in the shootout, but those involved have been placed on administrative leave per policy as the investigation continues.
Fairfax County Police said its officers responded to a mutual call for aid and “the suspect was already actively exchanging gunfire with several VSP troopers” when they arrived.
“One of our K-9 officers, a 7-year veteran, discharged a firearm during the incident. Per policy, that officer has been placed on modified restricted duty,” FCPD said in a news release.
The pursuit, crash, and shootout shut down southbound I-95 for several hours.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
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