Crime & Safety

Alexandria Resident Ruthanne Lodato Killed in Shooting Thursday

Unknown man, still at large, opened fire after knocking on door of home on Ridge Road Drive in Alexandria.

A well-known Alexandria resident, Ruthanne Lodato, died Thursday after being shot by an unknown man who appeared on the doorstep at a home at 2400 Ridge Road Drive, according to police. 

The man, described as an elderly white male, balding with gray hair and a beard, reportedly knocked on the door at about 11:30 a.m. and opened fire. He was still at large late Thursday night. As of early Friday morning, police had not indicated any change in the investigation. 

Another woman, described as a caregiver, was injured in the shooting, shot in the arm, according to police and family friends. 

A third woman, described as a grandmother, was reportedly staying at a neighbor's house after the shooting, according to a family friend.

The shooting prompted swift action by police and nearby schools. Police searched the area throughout the day and evening with police dogs while a helicopter flew overhead.

Some have raised concerns that the shooting could be related to the Ron Kirby homicide, which took place Nov. 11 in the Rosemont neighborhood of Alexandria, about a mile from Thursday's shooting. Kirby was also well-known in the community and was shot at about the same time of day. 

“Obviously, that occurs to us,” Alexandria Police Chief Earl L. Cook told The Washington Post, when asked about a possible connection. “We will have to look to see those similarities.”

Alexandria public schools and surrounding private schools and daycare centers went into lockdown mode after the shooting. It's uncertain what time the lockdown began, but an alert appeared on the ACPS Web site at about 1 p.m. The lockdown was lifted at about 1:45 p.m. at ACPS schools.

In addition to the nearby private schools and daycare centers that went into lockdown the ACPS schools that went into lockdown were: T.C. Williams High School, Charles Barrett Elementary, Minnie Howard Campus, Matthew Maury Elementary, George Mason Elementary, Douglas MacArthur Elementary.

The investigation is ongoing and very active. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Alexandria Police Department at (703) 746.6864.


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