Security guard shoots man with knife outside Alexandria community center in dispute over dogs

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - An armed security guard shot a man armed with a knife nearby a community center in Alexandria during a dispute over the man's dogs.

The shooting happened at around 1:15 p.m. Thursday at a playground outside the Gum Springs Community Center.

It all started when the security guard spotted the man with his two dogs not leashed by the bleachers near a baseball diamond. The guard apparently asked the man to secure them, which he reportedly did not do. That is when a verbal confrontation took place and the security guard shot the man in the abdomen before calling police.

According to police, detectives determined the man aggressively approached security guard with a knife before being shot.

The victim then left the area with his dogs in a car and drove himself to a nearby home in the 2800 Joseph Makell Court. Police discovered him in the driveway suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to the hospital for treatment. His injuries are believed to be non-life-threatening, police said.

"There was concern from the security officer because there is a daycare here on site and the children were going to be getting out for the day," said Fairfax County Police spokesperson Emilie Voss. "That situation escalated and eventually ended with the security officer firing one shot."

Police said officers were able to find the man through the license plate on his vehicle, which was provided by the security guard.

Officials said there is no threat to the public and investigators are reviewing surveillance video captured on nearby cameras.

Police said it is too early to say if the wounded man will face any charges.