Virginia State Police say a reported road rage encounter on I-495 in Annandale ended with multiple stabbings, a fatal police shooting, and the death of a 39-year-old woman, while key details about how the conflict began remain undisclosed.
TLDR
Virginia State Police report that a road rage incident on I-495 in Annandale ended with four people stabbed, a 39-year-old woman and a dog killed, and the knife-wielding suspect shot dead by a responding trooper, as investigators reconstruct the confrontation.
According to Virginia State Police, the incident unfolded on March 2nd, 2026, along the southbound lanes of Interstate 495 near Little River Turnpike in Annandale, a few miles from the Washington, D.C., line. Troopers and Fairfax County police responded after 911 calls reported an altercation linked to aggressive driving. Officials have publicly described the case as a road rage incident that turned violent, but they have not outlined the exact sequence of events or said what preceded the stabbing spree. Investigators have said the episode does not appear to be terrorism related.
What Police Say Happened on I-495
Virginia State Police said a trooper was dispatched at about 1:17 p.m. for a reported road rage incident on the inner loop of the Capital Beltway near Little River Turnpike. The agency stated that the stabbings occurred before or as the trooper was responding. In a written statement, officials said, “A Virginia State Police trooper was called to the scene at approximately 1:17 p.m. for a reported road rage incident.”
According to the agency, a male suspect was armed with a knife during the encounter with the responding trooper. Investigators say the trooper fired in self-defense, killing the suspect, and that the trooper was not injured. State police said four people were stabbed, including a 39-year-old woman who later died at a hospital, while three others survived. The dog that was at the scene was also fatally stabbed, according to authorities.
Road Rage, Use of Force, and Open Questions
In an initial public statement, state police characterized the episode as stemming from road rage, but they have not described what happened between the vehicles before the violence began. It is not yet clear who was involved in the traffic dispute, how many vehicles were stopped when the stabbings occurred, or whether the suspect and victims knew one another.
The shooting itself will be scrutinized as an officer-involved use of force, alongside the broader criminal investigation into the stabbings. In Virginia, fatal police shootings are typically reviewed by internal investigators and the local commonwealth’s attorney, and officials have already said the incident remains under investigation.
Traffic Shutdown and Community Response
The violence closed a major transportation artery outside Washington, D.C., during the busy early afternoon hours. The Virginia Department of Transportation’s Northern Virginia office wrote that “I-495 and 495 Express Lanes southbound past Gallows Road is closed due to a major incident,” adding that lanes were blocked because of police activity.
🚨Deadly I-495 Incident Leaves Four Stabbed, Dog Killed; Trooper Shoots Suspect
Fairfax County, Va. — Virginia State Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting that followed a violent road rage and stabbing incident this afternoon along Interstate 495.
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— Michelle Maxwell ™ (@MichelleMaxwell) March 2, 2026
Fairfax County police said they are assisting Virginia State Police with the response on the beltway, but have not released additional details about the people involved. As detectives interview witnesses, review traffic camera footage, and await forensic results, answers to basic questions, including what set off the confrontation and how quickly it escalated, remain central to understanding what happened on I-495.
