Police release body-worn camera footage in deadly Fairfax family stabbing, shooting

Police release body-worn camera footage in deadly Fairfax family murders

Fairfax County Police have released body‑worn camera footage Thursday as they continue investigating a case in which a man fatally stabbed his daughter and wife, then attacked his son‑in‑law before officers arrived and shot him inside a Mantua apartment last month. FOX 5's Bob Barnard has the latest details. 

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. - Fairfax County Police have released body‑worn camera footage Thursday as they continue investigating a case in which a man fatally stabbed his daughter and wife, then attacked his son‑in‑law before officers arrived and shot him inside a Mantua apartment last month.

What we know:

Officers were called to the 3900 block of Persimmon Circle on Feb. 23 for a reported domestic disturbance. Police say they found a woman with stab wounds outside the residence. Inside, officers encountered 54‑year‑old Chhatra Thapa of Fairfax armed with a knife and kneeling over a male victim. A second woman was also found suffering from stab wounds.

READ MORE: Police ID family killed, suspect shot dead by officer in gruesome Fairfax apartment stabbing

Body camera footage released in deadly Fairfax family stabbing, shooting

Fairfax County Police have released body‑worn camera footage Thursday as they continue investigating a case in which a man fatally stabbed his daughter and wife, then attacked his son‑in‑law before officers arrived and shot him inside a Mantua apartment last month.

According to police, officers ordered Thapa to drop the knife before opening fire when he refused. Thapa died at the scene.

The victims, identified as 33‑year‑old Mamta Thapa and 52‑year‑old Binda Thapa, were taken to a hospital, where both were pronounced dead. The male victim was hospitalized in life‑threatening condition. A 1‑year‑old boy was found unharmed inside the apartment and has since been placed with family.

The officer who fired is a two‑and‑a‑half‑year veteran assigned to the Mason Police District. The officer was placed on restricted duty pending criminal and administrative investigations as per department policy.

Body-worn camera video released

Video from the incident was released to the public on Thursday. Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis says he wanted to share the videos with the community to show how the department’s training played out in this case. 

"I’m convinced the more I know about what happened on February 23, and certainly the more I watch that video, if not for the actions of our police officer — heroic, decisive, disciplined actions — that we would’ve had two more victims. So we value every life. It’s sad. It’s tragic that the patriarch of a family would take the life of his wife and his daughter," said Davis. "We work with the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, and they will ultimately determine if the actions taken that day were lawful. But we’re in a day and age of body cameras, and the body cameras tell us stories much faster than they used to be told. That’s why I feel confident saying our officer acted in compliance with the law and within our policy."