A military couple was shot in their front yard outside their Springfield, Virginia, home Wednesday morning. Two suspects were arrested Thursday, police said.
With the help of U.S. Marshalls, police arrested 20-year-old Ronnie Keandre Marshall and 19-year-old D’Angelo Strand in connection with the murder after receiving a tip, authorities announced in a Thursday briefing.
Both suspects face eight felony charges in total for the “vicious” murder, Fairfax Country Police Department (FCPD) major crimes unit commander Major Ed O’Carroll, told reporters. Two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony constitute the four charges each suspect faces.
The victims, 63-year-old Brenda McDaniel and 55-year-old Edward McDaniel, both military physicians, were gunned down at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, O’Carroll told reporters at a Wednesday evening FCPD news conference.
Brenda was a retired service member while Edward was an active army colonel, police said. (RELATED: Nursing Aide Gets 7 Life Sentences For Killing Veterans Under Her Care)
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Police said that around 9:20 a.m. on Wednesday, 911 received a call reporting a “breaking event” in the 8000 block of Flint Street, Springfield, Fairfax County.
Officers from the FCPD and the local fire and rescue department responded to the report, going to the scene where they located the gunned-down couple, O’Caroll said at the news conference. Police officers then provided the mortally wounded duo first aid. The official said that Edward and Brenda were later pronounced dead by the rescue personnel due to multiple gunfire injuries.
On Monday, police had responded to “a call for service for a dispute and a potential burglary in progress,” Fairfax County police chief Kevin Davis told reporters in another press conference earlier that day. Davis mentioned that investigators believe there is a link between that incident and the shooting.
Davis on Thursday said that he believes “with certainty” that the two events are linked. Speaking of the tragic deaths, Davis said, “the two killers and a relative were all co-workers. It’s a fact that this [shooting] is related to Monday’s service and 911 investigation.”
Chief Davis and @edocarroll updated the community tonight on this mornings tragic double homicide in Springfield. BOLO light colored 2018 Nissan Altima MD:1EF1479. If seen call 911. https://t.co/nR59ZVSeOb #FCPD pic.twitter.com/ltoiLACqLT
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) May 27, 2021
On Thursday afternoon, police put out a picture of Marshall asking residents to phone 911 if they spot the suspect.
A local resident then tipped authorities that day on the location of the Nissan Altima. After receiving the tip, the police were able to find and nab the suspects, O’Caroll told reporters on Thursday.
Authorities thanked the local community for helping with the investigation.