At approximately 9:21 p.m. on October 18, 2018, police were dispatched to the 1300 block of S. George Mason Drive, Arlington VA, following the report of multiple 9-1-1 calls. The preliminary investigation determined that the suspect was walking in the area with a known female victim when he began to physically and sexually assault her. A male witness observed the assault and attempted to render assistance to the victim. The suspect physically assaulted the witness leaving him unconscious. The witness, Patricio Salazar, 54, of Arlington, VA was transported to George Washington University Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
Following the assaults, the suspect fled the scene on foot. The suspect came into contact with two additional victims whom he tried to rob of a cell phone. The victims fought back and the suspect again fled the scene on foot. The suspect then successfully robbed a female victim of her cell phone.
During the course of the investigation, detectives from the Department’s Homicide/Robbery and Special Victims’ Units developed a possible suspect description. Members of the Tactical Unit located the suspect and took him into custody without incident in the area of Columbia Pike and George Mason Drive.
This police tape is at the entrance of a small footpath in Doctor's Run Park, adjacent to the usually peaceful multi-ethnic Barcroft Apartments neighborhood, just off Columbia Pike.
Photography by Lloyd Wolf.
A shrine honoring Mr. Salazar and his heroism has been erected at the site. There is a moving Washington Post article honoring his memory, and a GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support charities in his name.
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