A Virginia State Police trooper shot and killed a knife-wielding attacker who stabbed three people and a dog on Interstate 495 near Annandale, Virginia, Sunday afternoon after a traffic accident escalated into deadly violence just 15 miles from Washington, DC.

Trooper Acts in Self-Defense

The violent breakdown unfolded around 1:30 p.m. on the southbound Capital Beltway following a property damage crash. According to Fairfax police dispatch audio, an irate man began stabbing occupants of another vehicle involved in the collision. A responding Virginia State Police trooper opened fire in self-defense, striking the knife-wielding suspect twice in the chest. The attacker later died at a hospital from his wounds.

A 39-year-old woman and a dog died from stab wounds at the scene. Two additional victims suffered stab wounds and were transported to Inova Fairfax Medical Campus in critical condition. Emergency responders had to resuscitate one victim on the highway. More than a dozen police vehicles remained at the scene hours later, captured on Virginia Department of Transportation traffic cameras as miles-long backups stretched along the beltway.

Four Confirmed Victims

Dispatch audio confirmed four total victims, including the attacker, shot by police, and multiple individuals with stab wounds. The exact conditions of the two surviving stabbing victims remain unclear. No state troopers suffered injuries during the confrontation. Virginia Department of Transportation officials advised motorists to seek alternate routes as the investigation continued into the evening, keeping the southbound lanes at a complete standstill.

Road Rage Turns Fatal

The incident highlights the deadly escalation potential of road rage confrontations on American highways. What began as a routine property damage accident transformed into a multiple-casualty event requiring armed law enforcement intervention. The Virginia State Police have not released the identities of the attacker or victims pending family notifications. The trooper involved in the shooting will be placed on administrative leave per standard protocol while investigators review the self-defense shooting. The highway remained closed for several hours as forensic teams documented the crime scene.