The United States Capitol Police (USCP) and the Fairfax City Police Department are investigating an assault at the Fairfax, Virginia, District Office of Representative Gerry Connolly.
At approximately 10:49 a.m. on Monday, May 15, a man entered Representative Connolly’s District Office. Two Congressional staffers were assaulted with a metal bat and received non-life threatening injuries. Congressman Connolly was not in the office at the time of the assaults.
The Fairfax City Police Department responded and arrested the suspect. At this time, it is not clear what the suspect’s motivation may have been. Based on what we know right now, investigators do not have any information that the suspect was known to the USCP.
Special Agents with the United States Capitol Police Threat Assessment Section were dispatched to Fairfax, Virginia. The Department simultaneously coordinated with our partners at the Fairfax City Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Washington Field Office.
The suspect has been identified as 49-year old Xuan Kha Tran Pham of Fairfax, Virginia.
He is facing charges for one count of Aggravated Malicious Wounding and one count of Malicious Wounding.
Last month, United States Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger testified about the heightened threat climate across the country. “One of the biggest challenges we face today is dealing with the sheer increase in the number of threats against Members of Congress— approximately 400% over the past 6 years,” said Chief Manger. “Over the course of the last year, the world has continuously changed, becoming more violent and uncertain.”
CLICK HERE for the latest USCP statistics on threats and concerning statements.
Originally published at https://www.uscp.gov/media-center/press-releases/uscp-launches-joint-investigation-assault-congressional-staff-virginia
