Crime & Safety

Murder of Area Resident Reportedly Over Installation of Speed Hump

Victim killed by gunshot wound to the upper body

Police are continuing to investigate the murder of a 48-year-old man that allegedly resulted from an escalating argument over a speed hump.

The body of Stephen Carr was found with an apparent gunshot wound to the upper body in the 6800 block of Field Master Drive, off of Sydenstricker Road in the Burke area. David Patton, 44, of 9140 Conservation Way, only a few streets away from the victim, has been charged with murder.

According to multiple reports, the crime derived from Carr's successful campaign to get a speed hump installed on his street, which is often used as a cut-through to Fairfax County Parkway. Fairfax County Police have not confirmed that and have not reported a motive for the incident.

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"There are a lot of kids around here. We need [the speed hump] so that people slow down because the kids are out," said a neighbor of Patton's, Gwen Blandburg.

Some drivers were enraged by this action and would honk their horns as they passed Carr's house, neighbors said.

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Patton was arrested in June after allegedly assaulting Carr outside his home. The trial for this misdemeanor assault was set for Thursday.

Carr's next door neighbor said that Carr was a good neighbor, but the neighbor did not know much about him. The neighbor said that at 10 p.m. last night, the police knocked on his door and told him not to come out, as an incident was ongoing.

According to a search warrant affidavit written by Fairfax County Homicide Detective Robert A. Bond, the suspect allegedly entered Carr's house with a gun while the victim and his girlfriend were watching television shortly before 10 p.m. Patton ordered the couple to the floor and restrained their hands with zip ties. When Carr attempted to get loose, Patton struggled with him and then allegedly shot him in the chest, killing him.

Reportedly, Carr's girlfriend ran out of the house but Patton followed her and forced her back inside. Shortly after, a man who also lives in Carr's house arrived on the scene. Patton allegedly ordered him to the ground, but was distracted momentarily, allowing him to run out of the house. Patton allegedly then pursued him out into the street. Carr's girlfriend then ran upstairs and dialed 911.

"The police were very good," Blandburg said. "From the second shot, they were here in about two minutes. They were here fast....They caught him in no time. One neighbor saw [Patton] running up the street and then I saw him in handcuffs."

Police reportedly found Patton in the backyard of Carr's house.

Jim Maloney, a neighbor of Patton's and a previous president of the local homeowner's association, confirmed this, saying he knew both the victim and the suspect from his days in office.

"Carr led the initiative to have a speed bump installed on Field Master," Maloney said. "I guess he and Patton were acquainted and apparently Patton didn't care for the speed bump."

Maloney said that residents can get very angry over seemingly minor issues.

"People get all crazy over the smallest things," Maloney said.

"It's sad—this morning the kids get up to go to school and there's crime scene tape," Blandburg said. "It makes you stop and think about what kind of world we live in today."

Crime Solvers is asking anyone with information to contact them by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, by e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or test "TIP187" plus your message to CRIMES/274637. You can also call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.


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