Location: 2800 block of Clarendon Boulevard, Arlington VA
Time: Approximately 6:36 p.m. on October 14
An attempted shoplifting incident escalated into a violent assault when two women fled a store with stolen merchandise and used pepper spray on a bystander. Police were called to the scene of the larceny just after 6:30 p.m. on October 14.
According to reports, the suspects gathered items in the store and walked out without paying. A witness attempted to intervene as they got into their vehicle, prompting the passenger to deploy pepper spray before they drove off. Medics treated the witness at the scene for exposure to the chemical spray.
One of the suspects has since been identified, and police have secured warrants for Larceny with Intent to Sell and Grand Larceny. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to identify and locate the second suspect.