Alexandria Dispatches: Fatal Police Shooting, Toy Gun Incident

Welcome to Alexandria Dispatches, a collection of this week's top stories you may have missed in West End Alexandria and surrounding communities.

West End Alexandria Patch:

Homeowners Associations Protest Proposed VDOT Off-Ramp: Landmark-area residents say they are concerned about health risks from air pollution, but a VDOT environmental assessment says pollutant levels will remain low.

Parklawn Cell Tower: AT&T Reps Answer Residents' Questions: Community remains divided about cell tower at Parklawn pool.

Police: Suspect in Fatal Police Shooting Had Gun: Alexandria police shot and killed a man Monday after responding to a domestic dispute on Duke Street.

Alexandria Big Lots Now Open: Discount store is located near Landmark Mall.

Old Town Alexandria Patch:

Independent Retailers Reign on King Street: Despite large firms moving in, data show boutiques and other independent businesses clamor for King Street.

School Control Bill Affecting Alexandria Heads to Governor's Desk: The measure can only take effect if the state budget includes funding for the new Opportunity Educational Institution.

Carver Owner Cromley: 'I Am a Preservationist': Owner of the Carver Nursery says he hopes a viable offer will come forward to save the Fayette Street building.

Del Ray Patch:

Hatch Discusses Famous Iwo Jima Photograph: Del Ray resident Norm Hatch refutes sentiments that Pulitzer Prize-winning Iwo Jima photo was posed in The Washington Post.

Capital One Announces $8M Loan to Construct Yates Corner: Mixed-use commercial complex is expected to be completed in December.

Construction Begins on New Braddock Metro Place Project: Ten-story rental apartment building on Madison Street could be completed as early as December 2014.

Mother of ACPS Student Arrested for Toy Gun Incident Criticizes Case's Handling: Nakicha Gilbert tells The Washington Post she has not received a clear explanation of why police took her son into custody.

Annandale Patch:

Officials: New Fairfax Employee Pay Plan Needs More Work: Unions, some supervisors say proposed changes to how Fairfax County pays its employees — namely, an odd-even pay increase system — need more discussion.

Behind the Scenes with Fairfax County Animal Control: Patch drove around with Animal Control officer Enna Lugo, and learned about Bats, Rabid Raccoons, and Biscuit, the wild Shih Tzu.