A Virginia man has been arrested after police accused him of fatally stabbing a dog out on a walk with its owner.
Reyan Hassan Ibrahim, 25, was arrested Monday around 11 a.m. during a traffic stop near Dulles International Airport, according to a press release shared by the Falls Church Police Department.
Authorities alleged he stabbed the dog during a walk with its owner near an intersection in Falls Church at about 9:15 p.m. Sunday. As a result, police said the dog was then euthanized. No other injuries were reported.
Police eventually identified Ibrahim, of Broadlands, as a suspect after witnesses sent his license plate number to law enforcement and a registration match was found.
“Our hearts go out to the family of this dog,” Acting Police Chief Jiwan Chhetri said in the release. “Pets are members of the family, and we grieve along with them. We give our thanks to our colleagues at the MWAA Police Department for their swift action.
“We also thank the community members who took down the license plate Information when they saw this heinous attack — it was a critical piece in catching this suspect,” the chief added.
According to court records cited by InsideNoVa.com, Ibrahim was out on bail at the time of the alleged stabbing on an unrelated charge of destruction of property in connection with a November 2023 arrest in Ashburn.
Police said he allegedly destroyed around $20,000 worth of property at three different businesses, including a McDonald’s, Chick-Fil-A and Sheetz, the outlet, as well as WUSA 9 and WPDE-TV, reported.
Following his arrest this week, Ibrahim was sent to the Loudoun County detention facility and is expected to be extradited to face charges related to the fatal stabbing, the police said.
It’s unclear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
